ligue1-logo
Other Competitions

World Cup: What to Watch in the Round of 16

With the World Cup's Round of 32 concluded, we look at some of the key storylines for the Round of 16, which starts tomorrow.
E. DEVIN
Published on 07/04/2026 at 03:00
2-minute read
Julio Enciso and Ousmane Dembélé will face off tomorrow in Philadelphia

With the World Cup's Round of 32 concluded, we look at some of the key storylines for the Round of 16, which starts tomorrow. Settle in for the latest with the Ligue 1 McDonald's team

Unstoppable force vs immovable object

After Argentina's nervy win over Cape Verde tonight, there's little question that France have been the tournament's most consistent side, especially going forward. The trio of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé have combined for an eye-watering 19 goal contributions, with Les Bleus having found the net at least three times in each of their four matches to date. However, as Paraguay proved against Germany, they're hardly and obliging opponent, having conceded just once in their last three matches. Their veteran nous could be telling here, but Didier Deschamps' side under no small amount of pressure.

Revenge, twelve years later

When Belgium met the United States at this stage in 2014 in Brazil, it took an all-time display from Tim Howard for the US to remain competitive, losing 2-1 in extra time. Now, though, the situation is quite different, even with AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun suspended. Mauricio Pochettino has the US humming, and playing in Seattle, one of the country's best cities for football, will only raise the level of the occasion, giving a young US side every chance to beat Rudi Garcia's aging Belgium.

How far can Morocco go?

Despite a dominant display against the Netherlands on Monday, Morocco needed a nervy penalty shootout to progress, and will now face Canada in Houston. The Canadians have been the least convincing of the three host countries. Having needed a late winner to beat South Africa, their frailties have been on full display, and a Morocco team spearheaded by the verve of Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) and Ayyoub Bouaddi (LOSC) look primed to progress to a potential quarterfinal showdown against France.

PSG to power Portugal

Despite much hand-wringing over his place in Roberto Martinez's eleven, there remains little chance that Cristiano Ronaldo will be dropped for Gonçalo Ramos, the former Paris Saint-Germain man's stellar goal notwithstanding. While Ramos will likely have to pull off the spectacular to influence Monday's match in Dallas, the play of his former teammates -- Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and João Neves, will have an outsize effect on the match. With Mendes facing off against Lamine Yamal and the two midfielders battling their club teammate Fabián Ruiz, this all-Iberian encounter looks set to be a real corker.

Read more:

>> Messi survives Cape Verde scare to advance

>> Ramos on target to help Portugal advance to Spain showdown

ligue1-logo