What happened: The 2026 World Cup Round of 16 field is set, with the confirmed pairings featuring Portugal against Spain, the United States against Belgium, and Argentina against Egypt. Other matchups include Canada vs. Morocco, Paraguay vs. France, Brazil vs. Norway, and Mexico vs. England.

Why it matters: The Iberian clash between Portugal and Spain stands out as the marquee tie of the round, pairing two heavyweight contenders far earlier than either would have wanted. All three co-hosts — the United States, Mexico and Canada — survived into the knockout bracket that took shape this week, keeping home-soil interest alive deep into the tournament.

What to watch: The single-elimination ties play out over the coming days, with winners advancing to the quarterfinals and every match carrying the possibility of extra time and penalties.