The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins this Saturday, July 4, the round of 16 with two matches that will open the fight for the first tickets to the quarterfinals.
The day, which coincides with the United States Independence Day celebrations, will begin with the duel between Canada and Morocco at 11:00 a.m. (Guatemala) at the Houston Stadium, Texas.
Canada, led by Jesse Marsch, is playing in the round of 16 of a World Cup for the first time after overcoming the group stage and eliminating South Africa 1-0 in the round of 32 with a goal from Stephen Eustáquio in stoppage time.
Morocco, for its part, returns to the top 16 after eliminating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout 3-2, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The match also reissues the duel from the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Atlas Lions beat Canada 2-1.
The second key of the day will begin at 3:00 p.m. (Guatemala) at the Philadelphia Stadium, where Paraguay will face France.
La Albirroja, led by Gustavo Alfaro, starred in one of the biggest surprises of the round of 32 by eliminating Germany in the penalty shootout, with an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
France arrives after beating Sweden 3-0, a result in which Kylian Mbappé scored two goals and Michael Olise once again stood out as one of the main game generators of the team led by Didier Deschamps.
The match also revives a historical precedent. In the round of 16 of the 1998 World Cup in France, the French eliminated Paraguay with a golden goal from Laurent Blanc in the 114th minute of extra time, in a match featuring goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert.
Twenty-eight years later, the Paraguayan team will seek to change history and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since South Africa 2010.