The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has kicked off with intense drama as the race towards the grand finale gathers pace across North America.

Canada’s dream run continued after Los Angeles FC midfielder Stephen Eustaquio struck a 92nd-minute winner at SoFi Stadium, breaking South African hearts in a thrilling encounter.

Under Jesse Marsch, Canada captured their first-ever knockout victory in nail-biting fashion, adding another memorable chapter to their footballing story on home soil.

Attention now turns to another exciting day of action in the United States.

At Houston’s NRG Stadium, Brazil and Japan will clash in one of the standout fixtures of the round of 32. The Selecao enter as heavy favourites to advance.

Brazil have lost just once in 14 previous meetings with the Samurai Blue and have triumphed in all four of their World Cup encounters against Asian opposition.

However, Japan can take heart from their most recent win over Brazil back in October, their only victory in this head-to-head rivalry.

Japan’s struggles against South American teams at the World Cup tell a different story, with three defeats in five matches. Moreover, they have historically found it tough at this stage of the competition.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu’s side now have a golden opportunity to make history by securing their first-ever World Cup knockout victory after four unsuccessful attempts, including their painful exit to Paraguay in 2010.

Japan were steady in the group stage, earning two scoring draws against the Netherlands and Sweden, but they face an uphill battle in this mouth-watering tie.

Carlo Ancelotti, tasked with guiding Brazil to their first world title since 2002, boasts an attacking arsenal brimming with talent, bolstered by the return of Neymar.

All eyes will be on Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who is aiming to become the first Brazilian since Rivaldo and Ronaldo in 2002 to score in each of the nation’s opening four World Cup matches.

Germany, returning to the knockout stage for the first time since their 2014 triumph, overcame early tournament nerves by sealing qualification after just two Group E matches.

However, complacency crept in as they stumbled to a 2-1 defeat against Ecuador in their final group game.

Now facing Paraguay, Germany are expected to adopt a sharper mindset in this do-or-die contest.

Seeking their first World Cup clean sheet since defeating Argentina in the 2014 final, the four-time champions are strong favourites to move into the round of 16.

Before their loss to Ecuador, Germany had recorded four straight wins over South American opponents. Still, they will be cautious not to underestimate their resilient rivals.

Paraguay’s tenacious spirit has carried them this far, but their lack of goals remains a major concern as they attempt to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010.

Having failed to score in their last five World Cup knockout matches, the Guaranies face an uphill battle in their first meeting with Germany since 2013.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, overcame a shaky start — a 2-2 draw with Japan — to top Group F with authoritative victories over Sweden and Tunisia.

The Dutch maintained their perfect record of advancing past the group stage in all ten World Cup appearances, with five of their last six campaigns resulting in at least a quarter-final berth.

Ronald Koeman’s team enter the knockouts full of confidence, riding an 11-match unbeaten streak. Their morale is further boosted by their previous World Cup victory over Morocco.

Morocco, however, are eager to avenge that 2-1 defeat from 1994 and are chasing consecutive World Cup wins over European opposition after edging Scotland 1-0 in the group stage.

After their unforgettable semi-final run in 2022, the Atlas Lions will be confident of another upset, especially following their stellar group-stage displays.

Holding Brazil to a 1-1 draw — a match many felt they deserved to win — and completing their first-ever World Cup comeback with a 4-2 triumph over Haiti, Mohamed Ouahbi’s men have shown real intent.

Elsewhere, England’s Reece James remains hopeful his tournament isn’t over despite injury concerns, while South Korea’s president has called for a government probe into their early exit following their coach’s resignation.

In another major storyline, Morocco and the Netherlands face off in a last-32 clash laced with history, while the tournament’s best XI so far features Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.

England have also received a boost with Declan Rice expected to start against DR Congo, while Canada prepare for a historic match as Messi’s Argentina continue their march forward.

Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda — already attracting Premier League interest — could be on the verge of a big-money move after the World Cup, particularly if he reaches another milestone against Brazil.

With two goals already in North America, the 27-year-old could become the first Asian player to score three or more goals in a single World Cup, with Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada also chasing that record.

Japan are no pushovers, but Brazil’s Neymar is ready to make his first start of the tournament after coming off the bench against Scotland.

Adored nationwide, Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, though he hasn’t found the net for his country since September 2023.

Now could be the perfect opportunity for him to remind the world why he continues to be one of football’s most influential figures.