World-class strikers Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Alexander Isak are set to take the field as the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup begins on July 1. The tournament's Round of 32 will kick off with a match between Ivory Coast and Norway, followed by France against Sweden, and Mexico facing Ecuador.
The opening match will take place at 2 a.m. at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Norway will challenge Ivory Coast. Norway, led by Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, aims to advance to the Round of 16.
This marks Norway's first appearance in the World Cup finals since the 1998 tournament in France. Having successfully navigated the group stage, the match against Ivory Coast will be a significant test for Norwegian football's aspirations.
At 6 a.m., France will square off against Sweden at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This match is particularly anticipated as it features a striking duel between Mbappe and Isak.
France has demonstrated formidable offensive power in the group stage, winning all three matches against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway, scoring a total of 10 goals.
Isak is a key player for Sweden, currently playing as a forward for Liverpool in the Premier League. He possesses a combination of height, technical skill, and finishing ability. While France relies on Mbappe's speed and precision, Sweden will look to Isak to spearhead their attack.
At 10 a.m., host nation Mexico will take on Ecuador at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Mexico hopes to leverage its home advantage to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Ecuador, known for its intense pressure and agility, aims to pull off an upset against the hosts.
Winners of all three matches will advance to the Round of 16. The victor of the Ivory Coast-Norway match will face Brazil, while the winner of France-Sweden will meet Paraguay, who previously defeated Germany. The winner of the Mexico-Ecuador match will go up against the victor of the England-Democratic Republic of Congo match in the Round of 16.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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