Teams Still Alive in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16

World Cup Field Narrows to Eight Teams

The FIFA World Cup began with 48 teams, but only one will claim the trophy on July 19. After progressing from 48 to 32 teams, and then from 32 down to 16, the tournament is now moving swiftly toward the quarterfinals with just eight squads left.

Several prominent teams remain in contention, including some recent champions. Below is a look at the updated bracket and which teams are still chasing the title.

Highlights of the Remaining Teams

Morocco reached the quarterfinals by beating Canada 3-0 and previously overcoming the Netherlands in penalties during the Round of 32. This marks the first time an African nation has reached back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals. Morocco aims to get revenge on France, who knocked them out in last tournament’s semifinals.

France cruised past Sweden 3-0 and narrowly defeated Paraguay 1-0, thanks to a late penalty from Kylian Mbappe. This is France's fourth straight quarterfinal appearance. A win over Morocco would send them into their third consecutive semifinal.

Norway made history by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time after upsetting Brazil. Led by Erling Haaland, Norway also ousted Ivory Coast before Haaland’s late goals sealed their victory against Brazil. They now face England in Miami.

England is back in the quarterfinals for the third straight World Cup. Narrow victories over DR Congo and Mexico have them eyeing a semifinal spot as they prepare to face Norway.

Spain stands out defensively, having not conceded a goal yet. Their 1-0 win over Portugal ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey. Spain will challenge Belgium, who bounced back from a shaky group stage with a convincing 4-1 win over the United States.

Argentina stayed alive with a remarkable comeback against Egypt, with Lionel Messi scoring a key goal to level the match after trailing 2-0. They will meet Switzerland, who advanced after a tense penalty shootout against Colombia.

FIFA Rankings of Remaining Teams

Top-ranked teams like Brazil, Netherlands, and Mexico have already exited. The top four in the FIFA rankings still remain in the competition, keeping the stakes high as the World Cup moves forward.