Read for 2 minutes4 Jul 2026 07:01 AM IST
Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the round of 16 after surviving a major scare against Cape Verde with a 3-2 extra-time thriller in Miami on Saturday.
Argentina needed an extra-time own goal to overcome a Cape Verde team with incredible resilience. The African, playing in his first World Cup, went down twice to silence the Argentina fans.
A goal and assist on Messi’s corner kick saved the mighty Argentina, who scored the game-winner midway through extra time. Messi’s goal was the 20th of his World Cup career, extending his record and moving him two ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappe on the all-time list.
Messi put Argentina ahead with his seventh goal of the tournament in the 29th minute, but Deroy Duarte equalized before the hour mark. Lisandro Martinez restored the lead early in extra time, only for Sidney Lopes Cabral to equalize in the 103rd minute with a stunning goal. Romero’s late strike – credited as an own goal – settled the contest.
Between them and a place in the quarter-finals is Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. The Albiceleste will enter the match as clear favourites, and should they progress to the last eight, they will face the winner of the Switzerland vs Colombia/Ghana tie.
Colombia and Ghana are currently facing each other in a round of 32 match, with the game still underway.
Argentina is in the same bracket as Brazil, Norway, Mexico and England. The winner of Brazil vs. Norway will play the winner of Mexico vs. England in the quarter-finals. If Argentina reach the semi-finals, they will face one of these four sides.
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World Cup 2026 Round 16 Match Schedule
| Match no | Date | Round of 16 | Time (IST) | place |
| 89 | July 4th | Canada vs Morocco | 10:30 p.m | Houston |
| 90 | July 5 | Paraguay vs France | 2:30 AM | Philadelphia |
| 91 | July 6 | Brazil vs Norway | 1:30 AM | East Rutherford |
| 92 | July 6 | Mexico v England | 5:30 AM | Mexico City |
| 93 | July 7 | Portugal vs Spain | 12:30 AM | Arlington |
| 94 | July 7 | United States vs Belgium | 5:30 AM | Seattle |
| 95 | July 7 | Argentina vs Egypt | 9:30 p.m | Atlanta |
| 96 | July 8 | Switzerland vs Colombia/Ghana | 1:30 AM | Vancouver |