The results of the night
Brazil – Japan (2-1): Brazil overthrew Japan (2-1) thanks to a goal from Gabriel Martinelli at the end of added time Monday in Houston to reach the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where it will face Norway or Ivory Coast on Sunday.
Returning to the score thanks to Casemiro (56th) after the opener from Kaishu Sano (29th), the Brazilians had to wait until the fifth minute of added time in the second half for Martinelli to avoid extra time and allow them to continue the quest for a sixth unprecedented coronation.
Defeated in their four round of 16 matches in the World Cup (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022), the Japanese once again failed to win a knockout match in a World Cup.
Germany – Paraguay (1-1, 4 tab to 3): Paraguay created the first big sensation of the 2026 World Cup by eliminating Germany on penalties (1-1, 4 tab to 3) in the round of 16, in Foxborough (Massachusetts), and will face France or Sweden in the eighth next Saturday in Philadelphia.
Sixteen years after their last participation, the South Americans won with a goal from their sixth shooter, José Canale. Strasbourg’s Julio Enciso (42nd) opened the scoring in the first half before Kai Havertz equalized for the Mannschaft in the 54th minute.
For Germany, the World Cups follow one another and are similar: the quadruple world champions were left with two pitiful eliminations in the group stage in 2018 in Russia and in 2022 in Qatar. If they made it through the first round this time, their elimination against the 34th nation in the world is another major disappointment.
Netherlands – Morocco (3-2, 1-1 after extra time): Morocco will face Canada in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, a qualification obtained through a tough fight, on penalties (3-2, 1-1 after extra time), at the expense of the Netherlands, Monday in Monterrey.
A save from Yassine Bounou followed by Ismael Saibari’s successful attempt offered the precious ticket to the Moroccans, who came very close to elimination in a match that they had dominated for a long time. They equalized in added time through Issa Diop, to respond to the Dutch opener from Cody Gakpo (72nd), overwhelmed by emotion just a few days after the announcement of his partner’s miscarriage.
Upcoming matches
This evening, Ivory Coast will face Norway at 7 p.m. From 11 p.m., France will challenge Sweden before the meeting between Mexico and Ecuador at 3 a.m.
