The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its knockout stages, with several high-stakes matches already played — Canada, making history with its first-ever World Cup knockout win, will face Morocco on July 4 in Houston. Paraguay, which stunned Germany in a penalty shootout, will take on France in another highly anticipated match.

Knockout Stages and Key Matches

The round of 16 is in full swing, with the bracket already set for the upcoming matches. Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa in stoppage time secured their place against Morocco, a team that famously defeated the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout. Paraguay, after a shock win over Germany, now faces France, the 2022 champions and a heavy favorite to advance; France’s dominant performance against Sweden, highlighted by a brace from Kylian Mbappé, has raised expectations for their next match.

South Korea’s Group-Stage Exit

South Korea’s World Cup journey ended before the knockout stage, After the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, South Korea was officially eliminated from the competition. The Korean squad watched the decisive match together at their hotel, with visible disappointment as the result became clear, the Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed that no homecoming ceremony would be held for the team. Coach Hong Myung-bo is scheduled to hold a press conference on June 29 to reflect on the tournament.

Japan also failed to advance beyond the group stage but did not lose any of its matches, earning a draw with the Netherlands and Sweden and a 4-0 win over Tunisia. Despite the exit. Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed optimism about the team’s progress, stating that the gap between Japan and the top-tier teams like Brazil is closing. However, a late 95th-minute goal from Brazil in their match against Japan sealed Japan’s exit, marking the latest winning goal in the knockout stages since 1996.

Cultural Impact and Fan Engagement

The World Cup has also sparked significant cultural engagement beyond the pitch, while In the United States, Norway’s 3-2 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium featured a dramatic Viking-style celebration led by Erling Haaland, which went viral. An anthem for South Korea. Created by a YouTube channel called ‘Soccer Will Be the Music,’ gained over 1.6 million views in two months; On Instagram, the anthem was used in over 1,700 Reels, with individual clips reaching 7.1 million views. A video by a women’s professional dance team alone recorded 9 million views, 636,000 likes, and 95,000 shares.

With the final match scheduled for July 19, the 2026 World Cup will culminate in a high-stakes showdown in New York. The tournament has seen a mix of dramatic upsets, cultural moments, and underdog stories, cementing its place as one of the most memorable editions in recent history.