World Cup 2026 Betting
Round of 16 Recap — Canada Out, and the Final Eight Are Set
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For everyone who followed this World Cup from a Canadian living room, the Round of 16 is where the ride ended. Canada’s tournament closed on July 4 with a 3–0 loss to Morocco, and over four days from July 4 to July 7 the last-16 whittled a field of sixteen down to the eight that now contest the quarterfinals. Some of it went to script — France and Spain did the professional thing — and some of it did not, with Norway knocking out Brazil and Switzerland surviving a penalty shootout to reach their first quarterfinal in 72 years. Here is the whole round, result by result, and what it leaves us with going into the quarterfinal window that opens today.
- Canada were eliminated 3–0 by Morocco on July 4, ending the co-hosts’ run in the Round of 16.
- Norway stunned Brazil 2–1 and Switzerland edged Colombia on penalties — two of the round’s biggest results.
- France, Spain, England, Belgium and Argentina all advanced; Brazil, Portugal, USA and Mexico went out.
- The final eight: France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, Switzerland.
Canada’s Exit — Morocco Too Strong in the Last 16
There is no soft way to frame it: Morocco were the better side and won 3–0. Canada had already made history simply by reaching the knockout stage as co-hosts, but the last-16 was a step up in class, and Morocco — unbeaten all tournament and carrying real quarterfinal pedigree from 2022 — controlled the tie. It is a bittersweet close to a home World Cup, but the wider story for Canadian bettors and fans now shifts to the team that ended the run: Morocco march on to a quarterfinal against France today. For the squad picture behind Canada’s campaign, the Canada team profile has it, and the wider board sits on the odds hub.
July 4 — Morocco and France Advance
Morocco’s 3–0 over Canada was the day’s headline on this side of the border, but France also came through, beating Paraguay 1–0 in a tie far tighter than the outright boards implied — the winner arrived from the penalty spot through Mbappé. Two knockout survivors, and a first hint that France, for all their favouritism, were going to have to grind through this bracket rather than stroll it.
July 5 — Norway Shock Brazil, England Survive Mexico
The result of the round. Norway, at their first World Cup since 1998 and chasing a first-ever quarterfinal, beat Brazil 2–1 behind a Haaland double, sending the five-time champions home. It reshaped the entire lower half of the draw. England, meanwhile, came through a genuine scare against Mexico, winning 3–2 in a tie that swung both ways before the Three Lions settled it. For the outright picture after Brazil’s exit, the tournament winner predictions go deeper.
July 6 — Spain Edge Portugal, Belgium Rout USA
Spain kept up the tournament’s most miserly defensive run, beating Portugal 1–0 to make it four clean sheets in a row and, in all likelihood, closing the book on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup story. Belgium were far more emphatic, dismantling the USA 4–1 to end the American co-hosts’ tournament — though the win came at a cost, with Amadou Onana suffering a serious knee injury that ends his tournament. For how Spain’s defence stacks up, the records and statistics page has the historical context.
July 7 — Argentina Escape Egypt, Switzerland Go the Distance
The last two tickets were the hardest earned. Argentina came from behind to beat Egypt 3–2 — a result Egypt’s federation formally protested to FIFA, alleging serious officiating errors — with Messi again decisive. Switzerland, meanwhile, drew 0–0 with Colombia and won 4–3 on penalties, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel the hero, to reach their first quarterfinal since 1954. Seventy-two years of waiting, settled from twelve yards.
The Quarterfinal Bracket
The Round of 16 leaves eight teams standing: France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland. Every host nation is out — Canada, the USA and Mexico all eliminated — and so are five-time champions Brazil. The quarterfinal draw reads France vs Morocco (today), Spain vs Belgium (July 10), Norway vs England (July 11) and Argentina vs Switzerland (July 11), with the semifinal scheme already fixed. For a fuller look at the four ties and the value in each, see our quarterfinal preview and the quarterfinal betting picks; the knockout bracket predictions page tracks how the draw might play out from here.
Results are final Round of 16 outcomes as of July 8, 2026. Any odds referenced are decimal and indicative, subject to movement. Confirm live CAD prices with your sportsbook. 19+. Please wager responsibly.
