Messi’s Hat Trick, a Group Stage to Remember — and Five Knockout Matches You Can’t Miss

Argentina’s captain rewrote the record books in the opening phase — now the Round of 32 delivers five unmissable matches this week.

WEEK IN REVIEW

If the 2026 World Cup needed a single moment to announce itself to the world, Lionel Messi provided it on June 17. Playing his record sixth World Cup campaign at 38 years old, the Argentine captain produced a devastating performance against Algeria in the group stage, scoring three times to claim his first-ever hat trick at a FIFA World Cup. The feat also made him the oldest player to score a hat trick at the tournament, surpassing a record previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo. The group stage has since delivered in kind: Kylian Mbappé fired France past Senegal with a brace, Erling Haaland led Norway to a 4–1 demolition of Iraq, and a last-gasp Amad Diallo strike lifted Côte d’Ivoire in the final minute of regulation. By Day 17 on June 28, the group stage had already set records for total goals — the biggest World Cup in history living up to its billing.

Now, with all 32 qualified teams confirmed, the tournament shifts into knockout mode. Sixteen nations advance; sixteen go home. There is no margin for error, no second chance, and no team on this list you should overlook.

Here’s what to look forward to this week — and how to make sure you don’t miss any of it.

WEEK-AHEAD STREAMING GUIDE

In the United States, the full Round of 32 is split between FOX and FS1, with every match available to stream on FOX One (foxsports.com/live). FOX One costs $19.99/month after a 3-day free trial, and is also bundled with major pay-TV providers including YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV. The matches below are the marquee fixtures of the week. France face Sweden in a potential classic at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday evening (FOX, 5 pm ET) — a repeat of their Euro 2024 group meeting, now with a World Cup knockout place at stake. The following day, England open their knockout campaign against a physical DR Congo side in Atlanta (FOX, noon ET), and the United States host Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium in a game the home crowd will demand (FS1, 8 pm ET).

Thursday brings the tournament’s most mouth-watering Round of 32 clash: Portugal meet Croatia in Toronto (FOX, 7 pm ET), an Iberian showdown loaded with Champions League stars on both sides. And on Friday, the defending champions return — Argentina face Cape Verde in Miami (FOX, 6 pm ET), with Messi almost certain to continue his record-breaking run. All FOX and FS1 broadcasts are geo-restricted to the United States. Viewers abroad can access them via a US server on TurisVPN (turisvpn.com), which works across all five matches listed below.

MATCH-BY-MATCH VIEWING GUIDE

Set up once, watch all week

All five matches above are geo-restricted to the United States. Connect to a US server with TurisVPN before kick-off and stream every game on FOX One without interruption. Visit turisvpn.com to get started.