World Cup heats up: Egypt makes history, England advances, Ronaldo prolongs stay

Egypt achieved a historic milestone in the 2026 World Cup, securing their first-ever victory in a knockout round match. On Friday, July 3, Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout after their Round of 32 encounter ended in a 1-1 draw. This marks a significant achievement for Egypt in its fourth World Cup appearance.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal advanced to the last 16 following a dramatic 2-1 win over Croatia. Ronaldo himself made history by scoring his first World Cup knockout stage goal, a 68th-minute penalty, becoming the oldest player at 41 to achieve this feat in the tournament's knockout phase. Portugal is now set to face Spain in the next round.

Looking ahead, England is preparing for a challenging Round of 16 clash against co-hosts Mexico, scheduled for Sunday, July 5, in Mexico City. Concerns regarding potential afternoon thunderstorms have prompted FIFA to consider moving the kickoff time to earlier in the day. Mexico, undefeated and yet to concede a goal in the tournament, holds a notable advantage playing at the high altitude of Estadio Azteca.