We’re into the last 32 stage, and there’s plenty going on at the World Cup as you’d expect. From silly sendings-off to favourites going out on penalties and an all-star case at the top of the Golden Boot standings, here’s your World Cup week in words.
What Happened This Week?
Here are two World Cup storylines we made a note of over the past few days. So what exactly happened?
First-Timers Have Their Moment in the Sun
Whatever happens to them from here, or has already happened, six teams have already made history by qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages for the first time. They were: Canada, South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde and Egypt.
Of those, the Ivory Coast are already out after losing a close match 2-1 to Norway on Tuesday, while Canada progressed at the expense of South Africa thanks to a late goal of their own and will now play Morocco, who knocked the Netherlands out on penalties. Canada are 4.75 to win in 90 minutes and 3.1 to get through by any means.
Of the others, Egypt are 2.5 to beat Australia in 90 minutes, with Cape Verde a huge 21.0 to beat Argentina in normal time and 10.0 to qualify. Bosnia take on co-hosts the USA, who are 1.33 to get the job done in regular time, but Bosnia are a tough nut to crack, and the 4.0 draw may be of interest.
Of course, the main reason for these teams making it to the knockouts is the expanded nature of the tournament, now 48 teams when it used to be 32, meaning there’s an extra round. But it’s still nice to see less successful countries having their moment in the sun.
The Footballer Who Didn’t Learn
Some players are taking their time to get used to some of FIFA’s new rules. Or one in particular.
On Tuesday, Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie became the second player at this World Cup, after Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron, to be sent off after covering his mouth while in conversation with an opponent, in this case Mexico’s Santiago Gimenez.
Hincapie is no stranger to getting his marching orders because he had already been sent off against Turkey in the Group Stages, a match Ecuador went on to win.
However, last week, England midfielder Jude Bellingham was not sent off despite covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana's Jordan Ayew. The reason for that was that it was deemed to be a ‘friendly conversation’, though how a referee is meant to know when it’s that or ‘confrontational’ (in FIFA’s words) is hard to see.
USA - Bosnia features in Bosnia the team that picked up the most cards in European World Cup qualifying, while USA are no shrinking violets themselves.
What to Look Out for This Week
And now to a couple of things to look out for over the next week or so as we start getting to the business end of the competition
World’s Elite at the Top of the Golden Boot Standings
We still have a while to go until we know who will be crowned 2026 World Cup champions but there’s another lively battle going on for the Golden Boot, too.
The list of players at the top of the standings currently reads like a ‘who’s who’ of world football with Kylian Mbappe (odds of 2.0) on six goals, the same as Lionel Messi (2.4), who has an extra game to play; Mbappe already played his last 32 match against Sweden, scoring two in it.
Mbappe’s France team-mate Ousmane Dembele (17.0) has four, just like Vinicius Jr (31.0). But don’t rule out Harry Kane on three goals and priced at 17.0, who could score at least one against DR Congo on Wednesday, something he is 1.73 to do, and it’s 4.5 he scores two or more.
Of course, no list like this would be complete without Cristiano Ronaldo. CR7 has just two goals so far but could add to that when his Portugal side play Croatia.
The Golden Boot winner market really is going to be a fascinating contest within a contest.
Who Will Pay the Penalty?
To some, watching a penalty shootout is a nerve-racking experience; to others, football at its most exciting. But one thing is for sure; it’s a necessary part of the game to find a winner.
The Netherlands and Germany have already been knocked out on penalties after going into their last 32 matches against Morocco and Paraguay, respectively, as strong favourites, and we're pretty sure that they won’t be the last sides to suffer penalty heartbreak.
One side with a difficult history of spot-kicks at major tournaments are England, in action against DR Congo on Wednesday.
Prior to the 2018 World Cup England had only ever won one penalty shootout (against Spain at Euro 96) but their record improved under previous manager Gareth Southgate, beating Switzerland twice (Nations League and 2024 World Cup) though they did lose the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy.
England have had a very strategic approach to shootouts that included: lots of practice in training, knowing well in advance who is taking penalties and in what order and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford having notes on his water bottle about how the opposing takers may go about taking theirs, and in which direction they may go.
England are 15.0 to beat Congo in a penalty shootout on Wednesday, while Congo are a big price at 2.10 to win by penalties themselves.
Portugal are another side with a good record in shootouts and it’s 11.0 that they beat Croatia by this method.
Odds on Ronaldo to cry if Portugal lose on penalties? Probably not that big!
