Welcome to TNIE's live coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
Day 26 saw Mikel Merino strike a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals, bringing an emotional end to Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career.
Later, Belgium produced a dominant display to thrash co-hosts USA 4-1, ending the Americans' World Cup dream and setting up a blockbuster quarter-final clash against Spain.
Now, the spotlight shifts to the last day of the Round of 16, where Argentina face Egypt before Switzerland take on Colombia, with two places in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
Here are Day 27's fixtures (all times in IST):
Argentina vs Egypt — 9:30 pm
Switzerland vs Colombia — 1:30 am
Lionel Messi's Argentina face Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as the maestro looks to reclaim the lead in a fiercely contested Golden Boot race.
The defending champions meet the African nation, spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, in Atlanta for the right to play Switzerland or Colombia in the semi-finals.
Argentina survived a huge scare from World Cup first-timers Cape Verde in the last 32, edging through courtesy of Diney Borges' own goal in energy-sapping extra time.
They will hope to resume normal service against Egypt, who have never been beyond the round of 16 on football's biggest stage.
"We are on the alert just like we were before the match against Cape Verde," said Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. "Egypt is also a good rival.
"It's a very good team. They have important players and a coach that has been working with them for a while now. They play good football and always make it difficult for their rivals.
"Salah is a great player -- it will be a pleasure to face him. Our team knows how to face these great players and we always work hard for it."
Scaloni confirmed Messi, 39, is fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes last week against Cape Verde.
Messi, France star Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland all have seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot, with the Frenchman leading the way due to his two assists.
Messi and Mbappe are also locked in a battle for the title of leading goalscorer in World Cup history, with the Argentine just one goal ahead, on 20.
The South Americans know they will need to up their game against unbeaten Egypt, who eliminated Australia on penalties in the last 32.
Salah, currently without a club after leaving Liverpool, has scored just once in four matches so far.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said he had been preparing his players "regardless of the colour of the opponent's shirt, or what name they have, and what ranking they have".
"This is a World Cup, a great opportunity to prove ourselves and that we belong here," he said.
Colombia's North American World Cup tour is headed to Canada.
With stops already in Mexico and the United States, Los Cafeteros will become the only team to play in all three host nations when they play Switzerland in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday.
Colombia opened with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Mexico City, beat Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and played Portugal to a scoreless draw in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Colombians opened the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over Ghana in Kansas City, Missouri, and now have the chance to clinch their first quarterfinal berth since 2014.
Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 for its first knockout-round win since 1938 to earn the trip to Vancouver.
The Swiss could be short-handed for the match.
Breakout star Johan Manzambi, Rubén Vargas and Djibril Sow all cut training short on Monday, leaving their availability in doubt.
"If they might not play tomorrow, it can be a huge issue for us," coach Murat Yakin said.
Reigning champion Argentina will not underestimate Egypt
In a World Cup that has seen powers like Germany and Brazil eliminated by underdogs, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said there was danger of his team underestimating Egypt. After all, the defending champion was given a scare by Cape Verde in the last round, needing extra time to come through with a 3-2 win.
"I think this World Cup has been, is very tricky for everyone. It seems there is no clear favorite," Scaloni said Monday. "I am convinced that if we didn't resort to our character in the last match we would be out as Cape Verde was giving us a very hard day."
Egypt is confident it can test Argentina as well and produce the tournament's latest upset — especially because it has Salah.
"My dreams have no limits. My ambitions have no limits. I promise that we will do everything to live up to the expectations (of fans)," Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said. "We're no underdogs. We're big in every respect. We are a civilization that is 7,000 years old, even more than 7,000 years."
Kylian Mbappé pushed France through to the World Cup quarterfinals. Erling Haaland and Norway will be there, too.
So will Harry Kane after England's epic 3-2 win over Mexico.
The stars are shining in this World Cup and it's about to get brighter, even after Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo bowed out for the last time.
The last two round of 16 games are Tuesday, including Switzerland against Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Topping the marquee is a showdown between Argentina's Lionel Messi and Egypt's Mohamed Salah in Atlanta.
One star will move on and add to his legacy. The other will head home from the World Cup, maybe for the final time.
Messi added the one thing missing from his resume by leading Argentina to the World Cup title four years ago and has shown he's still one of the world's best players at age 39.
Messi has scored seven goals in four matches, matching Mbappé and Haaland in a star-studded Golden Boot race. Messi has scored in a record eight straight World Cup matches, dating to the 2022 title run, and keeps adding to his record career total of 20 goals.
Salah has been the face of Egyptian soccer, a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner and the league's all-time leading foreign-born scorer.
The 34-year-old "Egyptian King" has an Egypt-record three World Cup goals and is one behind national team coach Hossam Hassan's record of 69 international goals.
Perhaps Salah's biggest accomplishment is pushing Egypt deeper into the World Cup than it's ever been.
The Pharaohs earned their first World Cup victory by beating New Zealand 3-1 in the group stage and earned their first knockout stage win by outlasting Australia in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Neither star has decided on his national team plans after the World Cup.
One will be a step closer to a decision after Tuesday's match.