Four of the eight 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinalists are set.
On Sunday, Norway and England advanced after wins over Brazil and Mexico. They will play each other in the next round at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (Fox/Telemundo, 5 p.m. ET). Below are our takeaways from the Round of 16.
Brazil must make drastic changes after latest World Cup disappointment
Brazil, which has won a record five World Cups, continues to lose more of its luster with another World Cup heartbreak. Following a 2-1 loss to Norway at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the country still hasn’t won a World Cup since 2002. The loss to the Scandinavian country also marks the first time the South American nation has failed to reach the quarterfinal of the World Cup since 1990.
The last time Brazil failed to do that, it used it as the launch pad for its title run in 1994. It strengthened its midfield and adopted a more structured offense, rather than the free-flowing system it used to win past World Cups.
The Samba Kings would benefit from similar changes in 2026. While it features talented forwards Vinicius Jr. and Endrick, the squad lacks the chemistry needed to win a championship. Just look at their possession rate (the proportion of successful passes a team controls during a match). Brazil possessed the ball for 34 percent of Sunday’s match.
Let’s bang the drum for Norway forward Erling Haaland
Haaland, who scored two goals on Sunday, led another Norwegian Viking Row following the victory over Brazil. He pounded the drum as part of the celebration, which has gone viral at the 2026 World Cup.