World Cup Day 21: France's dominance, Mexico advances, and key matchups loom

France has emerged as a dominant force in the 2026 World Cup, showcasing its superiority with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the round of 16. Kylian Mbappé continued his impressive scoring run with two goals, while Michael Olise added two more assists to his tally, solidifying France's status as a team to beat.

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My goal is to make history for my country.

Mexico also demonstrated its defensive strength and offensive capability, advancing to the round of 16 without conceding a goal. Their 2-0 win against Ecuador, with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, sets them up for a potentially tough match against England or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Javier Aguirre, reflecting on the win, emphasized the unique pride of achieving such a victory "at home with our people."

Looking ahead, England, led by Harry Kane, is the favorite against the Democratic Republic of Congo, though they are cautioned by the African team's earlier draw with Portugal. England's coach, Thomas Tuchel, acknowledged the pressure of being favorites, stating, "I consider it a privilege to live moments like this. I think we simply have to accept it: we are the favorites and we play against our own expectations."

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I have had to beat Brazil in a Copa América; Italy, other great teams, but like this victory, none, because it was at home with our people.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland's fifth World Cup goal secured Norway's win over Ivory Coast, setting up a challenging round of 16 clash against Brazil. Haaland, when asked about his team's chances, offered a concise "very few," but added, "We have prepared a lot and remain very prepared," ahead of their encounter with Brazil's stars.

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I consider it a privilege to live moments like this. I think we simply have to accept it: we are the favorites and we play against our own expectations.

The day's fixtures will also reveal more round of 16 pairings, including Belgium versus Senegal and the United States against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The latter match sees the United States as the clear favorite, but coach Mauricio Pochettino warns against complacency, emphasizing that there is no room for error.

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Very few.