MOGADISHU, Somalia — July 2, 2026 — The FIFA World Cup 2026 entered another decisive day of knockout football on Thursday as teams competed for places in the Round of 16, while millions of supporters around the world, including thousands of football fans across Somalia, closely followed the tournament. Four African nations reached the Round of 32, highlighting the continent’s growing competitiveness on football’s biggest stage.
Latest Developments
Thursday’s Round of 32 action features three highly anticipated matches, according to FIFA’s official tournament schedule.
Spain are taking on Austria in Los Angeles, Portugal face Croatia in Toronto, while Switzerland meet Algeria in Vancouver. The outcomes will determine the next teams advancing to the Round of 16.
Earlier knockout matches produced several notable results.
England defeated DR Congo 2-1 to secure progression after overcoming an early setback. Belgium edged Senegal 3-2 after extra time in one of the tournament’s most dramatic contests, while the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. Mexico also booked its place in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador.
African Nations Make Their Mark
The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup has provided Africa with greater representation, and four African countries advanced to the Round of 32.
They are:
- Algeria
- Ghana
- Morocco
- Cabo Verde
Algeria is in action against Switzerland on Thursday, while Friday’s fixtures will see Ghana face Colombia and Cabo Verde take on defending world champions Argentina. Morocco has already secured its place in the Round of 16 and is scheduled to face Canada on July 4.
The performances have reinforced Africa’s growing influence in international football, with several teams producing disciplined displays throughout the tournament.
Today’s Fixtures
The FIFA World Cup Round of 32 schedule for Thursday, July 2 includes:
- Spain vs Austria
- Portugal vs Croatia
- Switzerland vs Algeria
All three matches are expected to draw large global television audiences as knockout football continues across host cities in the United States and Canada.
Latest Results
The most recent completed Round of 32 matches are:
- England 2-1 DR Congo
- Belgium 3-2 Senegal (after extra time)
- United States 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
Those victories confirmed England, Belgium, the United States and Mexico as Round of 16 qualifiers.
Friday’s Fixtures
The knockout stage continues on Friday, July 3 with another three matches:
- Argentina vs Cabo Verde
- Colombia vs Ghana
- Australia vs Egypt
Both Ghana and Cabo Verde will be seeking major upsets against strong opponents as Africa looks to increase its representation in the last 16.
Somali Youth Following Every Match
Across Somalia, football enthusiasm has intensified as the World Cup reaches its knockout rounds.
From Mogadishu to Hargeisa, Kismayo, Baidoa, Bosaso, Garowe and other towns, many young Somalis gather in cafés, restaurants, hotels, community centres and homes to watch the matches together. Large television screens have become a common feature in public viewing areas during evening kick-offs, while discussions about results, standout players and predictions dominate conversations on social media and in local communities.
Football remains one of Somalia’s most popular sports, and the expanded World Cup has generated additional interest because of the increased participation of African teams. Many Somali supporters have expressed backing for African representatives while also following traditional football powers such as Argentina, Brazil, Spain, England and Portugal.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest edition in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 national teams for the first time. Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the competition introduced a new Round of 32 knockout phase following the group stage.
The expanded format has created more opportunities for nations from Africa, Asia and North America to compete on football’s biggest stage, resulting in a more geographically diverse tournament. FIFA says the competition runs until the final on July 19.
The expanded World Cup has increased African representation and provided more opportunities for emerging football nations to compete against the world’s elite. Strong performances by African teams have reinforced the continent’s growing competitiveness and investment in football development.
For Somalia, the tournament extends beyond sport. Public screenings and widespread television coverage continue to bring communities together, particularly young people who follow international football closely despite the country’s limited domestic football infrastructure.
As the knockout stage progresses, African teams will attempt to reach the latter stages of the competition, while football supporters across Somalia continue to follow every match with growing excitement.
