Sunday’s round of 16 FIFA World Cup will feature two heavyweight matches, with Brazil taking on Norway in New Jersey and co-hosts Mexico taking on England in Mexico City.
Click here for the full schedule, Opta predictions and the latest news from the tournament, including Morocco’s place in the quarter-finals and France’s thrilling victory over Paraguay.
What is the schedule for Sunday?
Brazil vs. Norway: 4:00 pm (20:00 GMT) at New York-New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA Mexico vs. England: 6:00 pm (00:00 GMT until Monday) at Mexico City Stadium
What are your predictions for Brazil vs. Norway?
Brazil will be hoping to end the unwanted run when they face Norway in the Round of 16.
The two teams have met four times in all competitions, and Norway has yet to lose in a match. The Scandinavian team has two wins and two draws, including a memorable 2-1 victory over Brazil at the 1998 World Cup.
Despite these historical trends, the Opta supercomputer calculates that Brazil is the clear favorite to win. After running 25,000 simulations before the match, Brazil won in regulation time in 53.6% of the results.
Norway won within 90 minutes in 22.4 per cent of simulations, but 24 per cent ended in a tie beyond the normal time, sending the game into extra time with a draw and possible penalties.
What are your predictions for Mexico vs England?
England and Mexico have only met once at the World Cup, and that encounter dates back nearly 60 years.
The encounter took place in the group stage of the 1966 tournament, when hosts England won 2-0 with goals from Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt. The Three Lions went on to lift the trophy that summer, winning their only World Cup title in their history.
England have also dominated matches outside the World Cup, winning each of their last four meetings with Mexico. All of these wins came in international friendlies between 1986 and 2010.
Opta’s supercomputer predicted it would be one of the closest matches of the round of 16, with neither team having a decisive advantage.
England go into the tie with a historic advantage over Mexico, but El Tri’s home support and familiarity with the conditions will help close the gap.
Across 25,000 simulations, England won 40.6 percent of the time, while Mexico won 31.5 percent of the time. An additional 27.9% of simulations ended in a tie after 90 minutes. This means the match will require extra time and possibly a penalty shootout.
Remaining round 16 schedule:
Brazil vs. Norway: Sunday, New York/New Jersey Stadium, 20:00 GMT Mexico vs. England: Sunday, Mexico City Stadium, 00:00 GMT starts Monday Portugal vs. Spain: Monday, Dallas Stadium, 19:00 GMT USA vs. Belgium: Monday, Seattle Stadium, 00:00 GMT starts Tuesday Argentina vs. Egypt: Tuesday, Atlanta Stadium, 16:00 GMT Switzerland vs. Colombia: Tuesday, BC Place Vancouver, 20:00 GMT
What else is going on?
Morocco’s historic advance to the quarter-finals
Morocco ended North America’s historic run on Saturday with a brace from Azzedine Unahi, defeating co-host Canada 3-0 and advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals for the second straight time.
The final score did not reflect game balance. Canada controlled much of the first half and created several promising chances, but Morocco did not register their first shot until the 28th minute.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouabi was visibly frustrated on the touchline before half-time, with missed passes and sloppy errors disrupting his team’s rhythm, but his side responded with a much-improved performance after the break.
“This is a World Cup match, a difficult match where teams play for their lives,” Ouabi said. “We reacted very well in the second half, especially in duels and competing for second balls.
Was Paraguay’s play “dirty”?
France captain Kylian Mbappé insisted his side are ready to face Paraguay’s physical approach after Saturday’s hard-fought 1-0 win to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Mbappe, who converted the crucial penalty in the 70th minute after Desiree Douai was fouled in the area, dismissed suggestions that France were fazed by Paraguay’s aggressive tactics.
“They thought we would come out in tuxedos and try some fancy tricks and one-twos,” Mbappe said. “But we also know how to play dirty football. If that’s what the game requires, we’re fine with it.”
The winning penalty was only awarded after a VAR review, with France coach Didier Deschamps questioning referee Ilgiz Tantashev’s response to the increasingly competitive game.
“We received three yellow cards as we were fouled throughout the game,” Deschamps said. “Every team has the right to play in its own way, but we could have played without the insults from our opponents.”
A fortress in Mexico awaits England.
Mexico will look to end a 40-year wait to reach the World Cup quarter-finals when they take on England on Sunday with one of the best home records in international football.
Since Mexico City Stadium opened in 1966, the co-hosts have lost only two competitive games, the last time being against Honduras in a 2013 World Cup qualifier.
Former Mexico international striker Hugo Sanchez believes stadiums can once again make a difference.
“The stadium is a monster. That’s why we had so many wins and draws and so few losses. It was just a coincidence. We’re going into this with optimism, because we know it’s England, but if we play like we played against Ecuador, we can beat them.”
Mexico’s World Cup performance at the stadium reflects that dominance. Across the 1970, 1986 and 2026 tournaments, El Tri played in 10 World Cup matches, winning eight and drawing two. In this tournament, they defeated South Africa, the Czech Republic and Ecuador without conceding a goal in Mexico City, and defeated South Korea in Guadalajara.
