Brazil's Historic Curse

Brazil is fighting to break a historic curse at the 2026 World Cup. The powerhouse has never beaten Norway in 4 previous matches.

This round-of-16 clash is a seismic tipping point for both nations. Yet, Opta's supercomputer labels Brazil the clear favorite, with a 53.6% chance of winning in regulation.

Meanwhile, Morocco and France have already secured landmark spots in the quarterfinals, France advanced after a physical 1-0 battle against Paraguay, sealed by a crucial Kylian Mbappé penalty. Mbappé dismissed their opponents' aggressive tactics, stating they know how to play dirty football too when required.

Now, Sunday's matches will decide which remaining teams survive this watershed moment to reach the final 8.