By Desmond Nleya
DUBAI- The race for FIFA World Cup glory reaches another thrilling chapter on Sunday as football heavyweights Brazil and England face difficult round of 16 encounters, with quarterfinal places hanging in the balance.
Five-time world champions Brazil take on a Norway side they have never defeated in World Cup history, while co-hosts Mexico hope to make home advantage count against England in what promises to be one of the tournament’s most fiercely contested knockout matches.
Brazil will meet Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford at 20:00 GMT, before Mexico host England at the iconic Mexico City Stadium at midnight GMT.
Despite Brazil’s rich football heritage, history favours Norway. The Scandinavian nation remains unbeaten in four previous meetings with the Seleção, recording two victories and two draws, including their famous 2-1 triumph during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
However, statistics experts believe Brazil are well positioned to finally end that streak. According to Opta’s supercomputer, which simulated the match 25,000 times, Brazil emerged victorious in normal time in 53.6 percent of the simulations. Norway claimed victory in 22.4 percent, while 24 percent of the matches required extra time after ending level.
The second fixture presents another fascinating battle as England seek to continue their strong record against Mexico.
The two nations have met only once before at a FIFA World Cup, with England defeating Mexico 2-0 during the group stage of the 1966 tournament—a campaign that ultimately delivered England’s only World Cup title.
England have also won each of their last four meetings against El Tri in international friendlies, although none have been played since 2010.
Opta expects Sunday’s encounter to be one of the closest contests of the round of 16. England won 40.6 percent of the simulations conducted by the supercomputer, while Mexico prevailed in 31.5 percent. Nearly 28 percent of the matches required extra time or penalties, underlining just how evenly matched the teams are expected to be.
Mexico will also enjoy the advantage of playing before a passionate home crowd at the Mexico City Stadium, where they have built one of international football’s most intimidating records.
Since the stadium opened in 1966, Mexico have lost only two official matches there, with their most recent defeat coming against Honduras in a World Cup qualifier in 2013.
Former Mexico striker Hugo Sánchez believes the atmosphere could once again inspire El Tri.
“The stadium is a monster,” Sánchez said. “That explains the high number of wins and draws and the few losses. We approach this match with optimism because if we play the way we did against Ecuador, we can beat England.”
Mexico’s World Cup record at the stadium further strengthens that belief. Across the 1970, 1986 and current tournaments, they have played 10 World Cup matches there, winning eight and drawing two. During the 2026 tournament, they have already defeated South Africa, Czechia and Ecuador in Mexico City without conceding a goal.
Meanwhile, Morocco continued their remarkable World Cup journey by booking a second consecutive quarterfinal appearance after defeating co-hosts Canada 3-0 on Saturday.
Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi scored twice as the Atlas Lions produced a dominant second-half performance to end Canada’s historic campaign.
Although Canada controlled large portions of the opening half, Morocco improved significantly after the interval.
“It’s a World Cup match and these are difficult games with teams playing for their lives,” said Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi. “We reacted very well in the second half, especially in the duels and in winning the second balls.”
France also secured their place in the last eight after edging Paraguay 1-0 in a tense and physical contest.
Captain Kylian Mbappé converted a second-half penalty after a VAR review awarded France a spot-kick following a foul on Désiré Doué.
After the match, Mbappé dismissed suggestions that France had been unsettled by Paraguay’s aggressive tactics.
“They thought we’d come out in tuxedos trying fancy tricks,” he said. “But we know how to play dirty football too. If that’s what the game requires, we have no problem doing it.”
France coach Didier Deschamps, however, questioned the officiating, arguing that Paraguay escaped punishment for repeated fouls while France accumulated several yellow cards.
The remaining round of 16 fixtures continue on Monday and Tuesday with Portugal facing Spain, the United States taking on Belgium, Argentina meeting Egypt, and Switzerland battling Colombia as the competition moves ever closer to crowning the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions.
