SEOUL, July 01 (AJP) - France and Mexico powered into the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with commanding wins, while Erling Haaland struck late to send Norway past Ivory Coast and into a showdown with Brazil.
Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, in a match that kicked off at noon local time.
Norway restored several first-choice players, including Haaland, who had missed the final group-stage match against France, but Ivory Coast controlled much of the early play.
Ivory Coast pressed high from the start and used width to push Norway back. Norway struggled to build attacks, while Haaland saw little of the ball in the opening stages.
But Norway struck first. In the 39th minute, Antonio Nusa punished Ivory Coast for dropping too deep, curling a shot into the net to give Norway the lead.
Ivory Coast raised the pressure again after halftime. In the 75th minute, Amad Diallo equalized with a powerful strike after driving through the Norwegian defense.
The match appeared to be heading toward extra time before Haaland delivered the decisive moment. In the 86th minute, he got a foot to a cross from the right and turned it in for the winner.
The win gave Norway its first World Cup knockout-stage victory and sent it into the round of 16 against Brazil at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5.
France produced the most complete performance of the day, beating Sweden 3-0 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match kicked off at 5 p.m. local time.
France played like one of the tournament favorites. Sweden tried to threaten on the counter early, but France gradually took control through possession, pressure and attacks from wide areas.
The opening goal came in the 45th minute. Kylian Mbappe received a pass from Ousmane Dembele on the right side of the penalty area and curled a shot past the Swedish defense.
France doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. Aurelien Tchouameni won the ball and found Michael Olise, who slipped a precise pass to Bradley Barcola. Barcola finished with a powerful strike.
France kept pressing after the second goal. Sweden looked to Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres for a route back into the match, but failed to create clear chances against the French defense.
Mbappe sealed the win in the 74th minute. Olise provided the assist again, setting up Mbappe for another composed finish to make it 3-0.
France will face Paraguay in the round of 16 at Philadelphia Stadium on July 4. Paraguay advanced after beating Germany on penalties.
Co-host Mexico also reached the last 16, using home advantage to full effect.
Mexico had been scheduled to face Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium at 7 p.m. local time, but kickoff was delayed by an hour because of heavy rain and lightning.
The delay did little to disrupt Mexico's focus. The co-hosts scored twice in the first half and beat Ecuador 2-0.
Julian Quinones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. After receiving a pass from Roberto Alvarado during a quick transition, Quinones fired a powerful shot into the Ecuador net.
Raul Jimenez added the second goal in the 31st minute, giving Mexico firm control of the match before halftime.
Ecuador finished the match with 10 men after Piero Hincapie was sent off in stoppage time. Hincapie was dismissed for covering his mouth during an exchange with Santiago Gimenez, a violation of the so-called Vinicius rule. It was the second such case of the tournament, following Paraguay's Miguel Almiron.
Quinones has emerged as one of Mexico's key attacking players at this World Cup. Before the tournament, he had scored just once for the national team, but goals against South Africa in the opener and Ecuador in the knockout stage have lifted his international tally to three.
Mexico has now won all four of its matches at this World Cup, scoring eight goals without conceding.
It was also Mexico's first World Cup knockout win that sent the team into the next round since the 1986 tournament on home soil.
Mexico will face the winner of England and DR Congo in the round of 16 at the same stadium on July 5.
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