Argentina had appeared on the brink of World Cup elimination… then Lionel Messi intervened Tom Weller/Picture Alliance via Getty Images Forty-eight teams started in this World Cup — now we are down to the final eight. Argentina and Lionel Messi had another scare, this time against Egypt in the last 16, and completed a remarkable turnaround from two goals down in under 15 minutes. They could have faced Colombia in the next round, a repeat of the 2024 Copa America final, but Switzerland prevailed on penalties. This means three-quarters of the remaining teams are from Europe. Four mouth-watering ties await. So how do the remaining contenders stack up? Here’s a look at our latest rankings. Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app Having dismantled four opponents in a row, France were largely nullified in the last 16 by a stubborn Paraguay side, but still made it through with a 1-0 win.
Published: July 8, 2026 10:23 am
Source: The New York Times — Read original