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FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Joe Mewis

When can England play Lionel Messi and Argentina at the World Cup?

KANSAS CITY, UNITED STATES - JUNE 16: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after completing a hat-trick during the 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Stadium) in Kansas City, Missouri, United States on June 16, 2026. (Photo by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images).

The knockout phase of the World Cup got underway on Sunday evening when co-hosts Canada secured perhaps the biggest win in their nation’s history, as a stoppage-time Stephen Eustaquio goal saw off South Africa.

The rest of the round of the 32 will take place over the next five days, with teams now knowing what their potential routes to the final will look like, after a group stage in which the myriad of permutations involving third-place finishers resulted in a headache-inducing set of potential outcomes.

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