The 2026 World Cup is bringing out quite the party out of fans and players. (Molly Darlington/Getty Images, Al Bello/Getty Images/Yahoo Canada Illustration)
We have entered the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup and with that has come a storm of clutch goals, controversial decisions, and heartbreaking exits.
Some giants have been killed, some heroes have been made, and all the while fans have showcased their passion and culture to unbelievably captivating degrees.
Here’s the biggest news you need to know from the fourth week of the World Cup:
Canada falls to Morocco, hosting duties continue in Vancouver
HOUSTON, TX – JULY 04: Canada Starting XI players pose for group photo during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco on July 4, 2026 at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
An historic journey that appears to have changed Canada as a soccer country forever has sadly ended. After a dominant first half, Morocco’s experience and quality shone through in the second half and a tight 1-0 scoreline became 3-0 in the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time.
What-ifs are aplenty, between Alphonso Davies and Ismael Kone’s injury, being better in front of goal to finish more of the chances created, and even the opportunity to play their knockout matches in Canada as a host nation.
Yet, there is so much these Canadian players should take pride in. They earned Canada’s first-ever men’s World Cup point, win, hat trick, clean sheet, advancement to the knockout phase, and a win in the knockout phase.
Canada’s involvement in the World Cup isn’t quite over yet. Vancouver hosted the Round of 32 fixture between Switzerland and Algeria and will now host the Round of 16 match between Switzerland and Colombia on July 7.
Ronaldo has love affair with Toronto fans
TORONTO, ON – JULY 02: Forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) of Portugal celebrates in front of supporters after scoring a goal during the second half of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia on July 02, 2026, at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Toronto hosted its final match of this World Cup this past Thursday and it was an instant classic between Portugal and Croatia. Two of the game’s greats in Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric went head-to-head, but it was substitute Goncalo Ramos – who came on for Ronaldo – that decided the contest with a perfect header off a cross from Rafael Leao. Croatia had a goal controversially disallowed in the 13th minute of second half stoppage time, causing outrage from the Croatian fans with cans thrown onto the field.
All the while, Ronaldo had a love affair with his fans in Toronto. From the moment he arrived, fans crowded around the Delta Hotel downtown to catch a glimpse of the world’s most famous athlete. On consecutive nights, he came out to the balcony and waved at them, even spurring them on for more cheers. There were massive crowds at Centennial Park for Portugal’s practice sessions, bringing the feel of a truly spectacle to Toronto’s final days as host.
FIFA invite controversy with postponement of Balogun suspension
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 05: FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump on the red carpet prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
(Tasos Katopodis – FIFA via Getty Images)
It’s hard to be surprised by FIFA making questionable decisions. They already did nothing to help Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after he was denied entry to the United States. They also allowed the U.S. to bully Iran into extremely trying circumstances by having to fly in and out of the United States on the same day of their matches. There have been questionable VAR decisions, and now, U.S. forward Folarin Balogun has had a suspension for their upcoming Round of 16 match against Belgium postponed by a year so he can play.
Balogun received a red card, which may have been an incorrect decision, against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their previous match but that was not the reason for the delay in suspension. There was also a report that the White House got involved in this decision. The overall reactions from soccer panelists around the world have been to condemn FIFA’s decision.
UEFA, the governing body of European football, released a statement calling the decision, “unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable.”
Prior to the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card in Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in November. What should have been a three-match suspension immediately became a one-match suspension for a pre-World Cup friendly followed by a postponement of the final two matches by a year.
Player of the Week: Erling Haaland
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 05: Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates scoring the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 05, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
(Ian MacNicol via Getty Images)
Norway needed a special performance from their best player and arguably the best striker on the planet in Erling Haaland to topple Brazil and they got it.
Haaland scored a powerful header in the 80th minute to give Norway a late lead, then settled matters at the death with a stoppage time insurance goal. It was a wonder strike to seal the deal, receiving the ball, picking his spot, and sending a thunderous drive low into the far corner.
The Manchester City superstar is now tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe for most goals at this World Cup with seven. Mbappe holds the tie-breaker by virtue of having more assists.
Norway is in the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in its history and after missing out on the tournament for the last six consecutive editions. Call it the Erling effect.
England deal with Viagra speculation, knock out Mexico in Azteca thriller
England’s Anthony Gordon (right) celebrates winning a penalty with Jude Bellingham (left) and Elliot Anderson during the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at Mexico City Stadium, Mexico. Picture date: Sunday July 5, 2026. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
(Nick Potts – PA Images via Getty Images)
England and Mexico played arguably the match of the tournament thus far, a clash that featured an outstanding atmosphere at Mexico’s Azteca stadium, a red card, a penalty, an all-world performance by Jude Bellingham, and a 3-2 scoreline in favour of the Three Lions.
Before all that, though, there were plenty of laughs at the pre-match press conference as both England coach Thomas Tuchel and veteran Jordan Henderson had to answer questions regarding some speculation that the England team was using Viagra to help deal with the high altitude in Mexico City.
Cape Verde lose thriller to Argentina, win hearts worldwide
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 03: Sidny Lopes Cabral #13 of Cabo Verde celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde at Miami Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Steph Chambers – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers – FIFA via Getty Images)
The defining story of this World Cup is Cape Verde, the third-smallest participant in tournament history in terms of population, finding a way to advance out of the group stage and then pushing Argentina to extra time in the Round of 32.
In one of the matches of the tournament, Argentina thought they had won it in extra time with a headed goal from Christian Romero, but then came the goal of the tournament from Cape Verde’s Sidny Cabral Lopes.
For neutrals, it was heartbreaking to see Argentina find another response in the second half of extra time through Lisandro Martinez, but one of the World Cup’s great underdog stories will always have a special place in the hearts of soccer fans across the globe.
Giants Brazil, Germany, Netherlands crash out
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 5: Neymar Jr #10 of Brazil is consoled by Raphinha #11, Vinicius Jr #7, Endrick #19 of Brazil following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 football match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
(Jean Catuffe via Getty Images)
Brazil getting dumped out by Norway wasn’t the only surprise this past week, as four-time champions Germany and three-time finalists the Netherlands also crashed out.
Germany have arguably suffered the biggest shock of the tournament, losing to Paraguay on penalties. They will feel a bit hard done by after having a goal disallowed in extra time, but the reality is they were poor all tournament. They scraped by Ivory Coast after trailing, then lost to Ecuador, and struggled to break through against Paraguay for much of the contest. The coach Julian Naggelsman has been sacked in the aftermath, and Jurgen Klopp — a coaching legend at Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund — has been named as his replacement.
The Dutch were unlucky in the sense that winning their group brought them a date with a Morocco team that was ranked seventh entering the World Cup, are the African champions, and reached the semifinals of the last World Cup. Still, their manager Ronald Koeman chose to be ultra defensive and changed their tactics from the group stage and that proved their downfall in what was ultimately another penalty shootout loss. The Netherlands hasn’t lost a World Cup match in 90 minutes since 2006. And yet, they remain without a trophy to their name. Koeman stepped down as manager after the defeat.
All of these surprises have made the tournament that much more exciting.