World Cup 2026: Top matches to watch in the Round of 32 knockout stage

The FIFA World Cup enters its thrilling elimination phase with the Round of 32, where top teams are expected to elevate their performance and leave nothing held back. This stage marks the true beginning of the tournament for many experienced watchers, as the pressure intensifies and every match carries the weight of potential elimination.

A standout fixture is the Netherlands versus Morocco on Monday, June 29. This rare encounter pits two top-10 ranked teams against each other, with Morocco currently sixth and the Netherlands seventh in the FIFA world rankings. Morocco, who reached the semifinals in Qatar 2022, will need to find their best form against a Dutch side that will be focused on containing key players like PSV Eindhoven's Ismael Saibari. This match is a rematch of a 1994 World Cup game, which the Netherlands narrowly won.

Ivory Coast will face Norway on Tuesday, June 30, in a match where Norway's star striker Erling Haaland is expected to be fully rested and ready to add to his impressive goal tally. After being rested in their last group game, Haaland and his teammates should benefit from the extra rest, especially after a physically demanding match against Senegal. The game will be played in a climate-controlled indoor venue, mitigating concerns about heat and humidity that affected some Norwegian players.

Another key match on Tuesday sees France take on Sweden. France has showcased a formidable attacking front four, including Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Kylian Mbappe, and Michael Olise, and has demonstrated their scoring potential with a dominant performance in training. Assistant coach Guy Stephan noted that France "could have had more" goals in the group stage. Didier Deschamps returns to lead the team after missing a previous match due to a family matter.

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could have had more