World Cup June 30-July 1: France, Mexico and USA Lead Six-Knockout Hosts Weekend
Mbappé vs Sweden at MetLife. El Tri at Azteca. Pulisic and England-Wissa in Atlanta. Everything on the line for three co-hosts.
Germany and the Netherlands are gone. The round of 32 does not slow down.
June 30 and July 1 bring six more knockout games - and three North American co-hosts carry the weight of a continent.
Here is what matters before the whistle.
Tuesday, June 30 - France, Haaland, and Mexico at altitude
Ivory Coast vs Norway - 1 p.m. ET, Dallas
Erling Haaland finally gets his knockout stage. Norway finished second in Group I behind France but scored nine goals in three games.
Ivory Coast were solid if unspectacular - second in Group E behind Germany (who are already out). Physical, fast, awkward.
Winner plays Brazil on July 5. Loser goes home. Haaland’s World Cup legacy is on the line in Arlington.
France vs Sweden - 5 p.m. ET, East Rutherford
The tournament favorite meets the rollercoaster.
France won all three group games. 10 goals. +8 goal difference. Kylian Mbappé has four goals and an assist. Ousmane Dembélé - Ballon d’Or winner - has four as well. Michael Olise has been the best midfielder in the tournament.
Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1, lost 5-1 to the Netherlands, drew 1-1 with Japan. Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Anthony Elanga - talent without consistency.
Vegas says France by a mile. Sweden conceded seven in the groups. If anyone can shock the 2018 champions, they need a miracle at MetLife - the same stadium hosting the July 19 final.
Winner faces Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia - the South Americans already knocked out Germany.
Mexico vs Ecuador - 9 p.m. ET, Mexico City
The emotional one.
Mexico won Group A 3/3 without conceding. 6 goals scored. Zero against. They return to Estadio Azteca - 7,200 feet of altitude and 100,000 voices.
Ecuador upset Germany 2-1 in the groups but scored only two goals total. Tough defense, thin attack.
Forty years and 15 days after beating Bulgaria 2-0 in the 1986 round of 16 at the same stadium, El Tri can win only their second ever World Cup knockout match on home soil.
Ecuador want to prove the Germany result was not a fluke. Mexico want a quarterfinal path that could run through England in Mexico City on July 5.
Wednesday, July 1 - England, Belgium, and the USMNT
England vs DR Congo - noon ET, Atlanta
Harry Kane is England’s all-time World Cup top scorer - 11 goals, past Gary Lineker. Jude Bellingham can score and assist at 22. Thomas Tuchel’s side topped Group L despite a 0-0 with Ghana and uninspiring spells.
DR Congo are fearless. Yoane Wissa has three of their four World Cup goals, including a brace vs Uzbekistan. They held Portugal 1-1. First-ever knockout match for the Leopards.
Wissa vs Kane is the headline. England should win. Congo have nothing to lose - and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on one flank.
Belgium vs Senegal - 4 p.m. ET, Seattle
Belgium stumbled through the groups - five goals against New Zealand, draws with Iran and Egypt. Romelu Lukaku finally looked like himself vs Egypt.
Senegal hammered Iraq 5-0 and took third place in Group I with four points. Sadio Mané’s legacy. African pride.
Rain city. Big men. Could be tight.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - 8 p.m. ET, Santa Clara
The co-hosts’ defining night.
USA won Group D with 6 points despite a 3-2 loss to Turkey in the finale. Christian Pulisic missed that game with a calf issue - he is the pulse of this team. Gio Reyna scored a wonder goal vs Paraguay. Matt Turner in goal.
Bosnia scraped through as a best third on 4 points - 1-1 with Canada, 3-1 vs Qatar, 4-1 loss to Switzerland.
FIFA ranks Bosnia 62nd. The USMNT are at home in the Bay Area. A nation expects a deep run. Sebastian Berhalter said it plainly: “We play every game like a knockout game.”
Winner likely plays Belgium or Senegal in Seattle on July 6. Lose, and the home World Cup ends in the round of 32.
The weekend picture
| Date | Must-watch | Why |
|---|---|---|
| June 30 | France vs Sweden | Favorite vs chaos - MetLife dry run for the final |
| June 30 | Mexico vs Ecuador | Azteca. History. Altitude. |
| July 1 | USA vs Bosnia | Co-host survival |
| July 1 | England vs DR Congo | Wissa and the upset plot |
Paraguay and Morocco already stole the show. Canada won in the 92nd minute. Brazil needed Martinelli at 90+5.
The knockout stage is not asking permission. It is taking legends with it.
Grab a seat. The next 48 hours decide half the quarterfinal bracket.