BY KUNLE SOLAJA

When the final whistle sounded and Argentina finally emerged 3-2 winners after extra time, the scoreline told only part of the story.

The real story was not just that defending champions Argentina had advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup. It was that a tiny island nation of barely half a million people had pushed the world champions, and a record-breaking Lionel Messi, to the very edge.

For much of the football world, Cabo Verde were expected to be little more than spectators at the grandest stage of all. Making their FIFA World Cup debut, the Blue Sharks arrived in North America with little fanfare and few expectations.

By the time their remarkable journey ended against Argentina, they had become Africa’s Cinderella team and one of the most celebrated stories of the tournament.

From Praia to Buenos Aires, from Dakar to New York, football fans were united in admiration for a team that refused to be intimidated by reputations, rankings or history.

Against Argentina, the script appeared straightforward. On one side stood the reigning world champions, led by Messi, the greatest player of his generation and perhaps of all time. On the other stood a nation making its first appearance at the World Cup.

What many anticipated would be a routine Argentine victory became a gripping contest that required extra time before the South Americans could finally prevail.

Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina, exchanges words with Cabo Verde players after their dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 encounter. While Argentina eventually prevailed, the Blue Sharks earned global admiration for their fearless debut campaign, pushing the reigning champions to the limit and capping one of the tournament’s most inspiring underdog stories. PHOTO: FIFA/Getty Images.

In many ways, Cabo Verde achieved something that statistics cannot measure. They transformed themselves from tournament newcomers into global favourites.

Their courage forced Argentina to work harder than many expected. Their organisation frustrated one of football’s most potent attacks. Their belief never wavered, even when facing a side packed with world-class talent and carrying the burden of defending the title.

Ironically, a match that produced a collection of historic milestones for Messi also highlighted the extraordinary rise of Cabo Verde.

Messi became the first player ever to feature in the knockout stages of six different World Cups. He extended his record as the competition’s all-time leading scorer with his 20th goal and made a record 30th World Cup appearance. He also became the oldest South American player to score in a World Cup knockout match.

Yet while the headlines naturally celebrated another chapter in Messi’s remarkable career, many of the loudest conversations after the match were about the team that nearly derailed Argentina’s march.

For African football, Cabo Verde’s campaign represents something significant.

For decades, the continent’s World Cup hopes have largely rested on traditional powers such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. Cabo Verde arrived with none of that pedigree.

Yet they demonstrated that modern African football is no longer confined to established names.

Throughout the tournament, the Blue Sharks competed without fear. They faced former world champions Uruguay and Spain. They then confronted the reigning champions Argentina.

Remarkably, their only defeat came against Lionel Scaloni’s side.

That achievement alone underlines the scale of their accomplishment.

The tournament also provided moments of individual history.

Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha became the first African player aged 40 or older to appear in a World Cup knockout match. At 40 years and 30 days, he stood as a symbol of resilience and longevity, inspiring teammates young enough to be his sons.

His performances throughout the tournament reflected the character of the team itself — composed, courageous and determined.

Cabo Verde may not have lifted the trophy, but they captured something equally valuable: the imagination of football fans around the world.

Their journey echoed some of the greatest underdog stories in World Cup history. Like Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Morocco in 2022, they reminded the world that football’s magic often lies not in the triumphs of giants but in the dreams of outsiders.

For Africa, their campaign offers renewed hope.

For Cabo Verde, it offers proof that they belong among football’s elite.

And for the rest of the world, the Blue Sharks leave the tournament with something no scoreline can erase — respect.

Argentina continue their title defence. Messi continues to rewrite football history.

But long after the statistics are forgotten, FIFA World Cup 2026 will be remembered as the tournament where Cabo Verde arrived on the world stage and showed that even the smallest nation can dream big enough to challenge champions.

 

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Fixture: Canada vs Morocco
Venue: Houston Stadium
Stage: FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16
Previous World Cup Meetings: 1
Overall Meetings: 4
Canada Record vs Morocco: W0 D1 L3
Morocco Record vs Canada: W3 D1 L0

Canada and Morocco will renew a growing World Cup rivalry in Houston as they meet for the second successive FIFA World Cup, with a coveted quarter-final place at stake.

The Atlas Lions emerged 2-1 winners when the nations met in the Group F stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri gave Morocco a commanding lead before an own goal reduced the deficit.

Four years later, Morocco once again stand between Canada and history.

Road To The Round Of 16

Canada arrive in the knockout phase on the back of their first-ever World Cup knockout victory. A dramatic stoppage-time strike from Stephen Eustáquio secured a 1-0 victory over South Africa in Los Angeles, sending the co-hosts into the Round of 16.

Under coach Jesse Marsch, Canada finished second in Group B with four points, behind Switzerland but ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.

Morocco’s passage was more dramatic. The North Africans defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in Monterrey. Defender Issa Diop rescued Morocco with a 91st-minute equaliser before Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty.

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi guided the Atlas Lions through Group C unbeaten, drawing with Brazil and defeating both Scotland and Haiti.

Head-To-Head

FIFA World Cup Meetings

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A
Canada	1	0	0	1	1	2
Morocco	1	1	0	0	2	1

All International Meetings

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A
Canada	4	0	1	3	4	10
Morocco	4	3	1	0	10	4

Last Meeting
Canada 1-2 Morocco (FIFA World Cup 2022, Doha)

Key Facts

• Morocco are unbeaten in all four previous meetings between the teams, winning three and drawing one.
• The Atlas Lions defeated Canada 2-1 in their only previous competitive encounter at the 2022 World Cup.
• Canada are facing African opposition for the second consecutive knockout round after overcoming South Africa 1-0 in the Round of 32.
• The victory over South Africa was only Canada’s second World Cup win and their first-ever knockout-stage triumph.
• Canada are aiming to become just the fifth Concacaf nation to reach a World Cup quarter-final after Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico and the United States.
• The Canadians have kept two clean sheets in their last three World Cup matches.
• Canada have scored in six consecutive World Cup games, their longest scoring streak at the tournament.
• Jesse Marsch’s side have already set a national record by scoring nine goals at a single World Cup.
• Morocco have won both of their World Cup matches against Concacaf opposition, defeating Canada in 2022 and Haiti in 2026.
• The Atlas Lions have lost only two of their last 12 World Cup matches.
• Morocco have scored seven goals at this tournament, surpassing their previous best tally at a single World Cup.
• The North Africans have found the net in five consecutive World Cup matches for the first time.
• Victory would make Morocco the first African nation ever to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on more than one occasion.
• Achraf Hakimi has made 14 World Cup appearances, the most by any African player in tournament history, and could extend the record to 15.

Players To Watch

Stephen Eustáquio (Canada)
The midfielder delivered Canada’s historic knockout breakthrough with his stoppage-time winner against South Africa and remains the heartbeat of the co-hosts’ midfield.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
The Moroccan captain continues to break African World Cup records and provides leadership, pace and attacking threat from defence.

Ismael Saibari (Morocco)
The PSV midfielder held his nerve to convert the decisive penalty against the Netherlands and has become one of Morocco’s most influential attacking players.

Canada World Cup Snapshot

• Matches Played: 10
• Wins: 2
• Draws: 1
• Losses: 7
• Goals Scored: 11
• Goals Conceded: 15
• Best Win: Canada 6-0 Qatar (2026)
• Goals at World Cup 2026: 9

Morocco World Cup Snapshot

• Matches Played: 27
• Wins: 7
• Draws: 9
• Losses: 11
• Goals Scored: 27
• Goals Conceded: 31
• Best Win: Morocco 4-2 Haiti (2026) and Morocco 3-0 Scotland (1998)
• Goals at World Cup 2026: 7

The Stakes

For Canada, victory would represent the greatest achievement in the nation’s World Cup history and a first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals.

For Morocco, the challenge is equally historic. Having reached the semi-finals in Qatar 2022 and now the Round of 16 again, the Atlas Lions can become the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on more than one occasion.

With Canada’s confidence growing on home soil and Morocco carrying the weight of African football’s ambitions, Houston is set for one of the most compelling Round of 16 encounters of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

 

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Fixture: Paraguay vs France
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium
Stage: FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16
Date: July 2026

Paraguay and France will meet for the third time in FIFA World Cup history when they clash in a highly anticipated Round of 16 encounter at Philadelphia Stadium.

History strongly favours France, who have won both previous World Cup meetings between the sides. The first came in a dramatic 7-3 group-stage thriller at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, a match still remembered as the highest-scoring World Cup game involving either nation. French legend Just Fontaine scored a hat-trick in that unforgettable encounter.

Their second World Cup meeting arrived four decades later at France 1998, when the hosts edged Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 thanks to a golden goal from Laurent Blanc.

Head-to-Head Record

FIFA World Cup Meetings

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A
Paraguay	2	0	0	2	3	8
France	2	2	0	0	8	3

All International Meetings

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A
Paraguay	5	0	2	3	4	14
France	5	3	2	0	14	4

Last Meeting: France 5-0 Paraguay (Friendly, Rennes, June 2017)

Road To The Round Of 16

Paraguay booked their place among the final 16 after finishing third in Group D with four points behind the United States and Australia but ahead of Türkiye. Gustavo Alfaro’s men then produced one of the shocks of the Round of 32 by eliminating four-time champions Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The match featured a landmark moment as Julio Enciso scored Paraguay’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.

France, meanwhile, have looked every inch title contenders. They topped Group I with maximum points after victories over Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0) and Norway (4-1) before sweeping aside Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32.

A brace from Kylian Mbappé and a goal from Bradley Barcola secured the victory and extended an extraordinary scoring streak that has seen Les Bleus become the first team in World Cup history to score at least three goals in five consecutive matches.

Key Facts

• France have won both previous World Cup meetings against Paraguay.
• Paraguay have lost only one of their last five World Cup matches against European opposition.
• La Albirroja have progressed from a World Cup knockout tie twice, both through penalty shoot-outs — against Japan in 2010 and Germany in 2026.
• A victory would take Paraguay into the quarter-finals and equal their best-ever World Cup performance, achieved in South Africa in 2010.
• Paraguay have lost only two of their last ten World Cup matches.
• France have won 13 of their last 15 international matches.
• Les Bleus have won 15 of their last 18 World Cup fixtures.
• France have won their opening four matches of a World Cup campaign for only the second time, matching their achievement in 1998.
• The French have prevailed in 17 of their last 20 World Cup knockout matches.
• France have scored 149 goals in World Cup history and need just one more to reach the 150-goal milestone.
• Mbappé’s brace against Sweden marked the seventh time he has scored two or more goals in a World Cup match, a tournament record.
• The France captain has scored nine goals in his last five World Cup appearances.

Players To Watch

Julio Enciso (Paraguay)
The Brighton forward made history against Germany by scoring Paraguay’s first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal and will carry his country’s attacking hopes.

Kylian Mbappé (France)
In devastating form, Mbappé has scored nine goals in his last five World Cup matches and remains the leading figure in France’s pursuit of another world title.

Paraguay World Cup Record

• Matches: 31
• Wins: 8
• Draws: 12
• Losses: 11
• Goals For: 33
• Goals Against: 43

The Verdict

Paraguay arrive full of confidence after their dramatic elimination of Germany and are chasing a second-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance. Standing in their way, however, is a France side rewriting attacking records and looking increasingly like one of the favourites for the title.

History, form and firepower all favour Les Bleus, but Paraguay have already shown in this tournament that they are capable of upsetting football’s traditional giants.

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