FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: Round of 32, Day 1 – Paraguay, Morocco, Brazil & Canada Advance to the Last 16!

Our thoughts...

The All Whites have been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after suffering a 5–1 defeat to a dominant Belgium side, ending New Zealand's impressive tournament campaign before the knockout stages.

Despite the result, Kiwis can be proud of the All Whites for representing New Zealand on football's biggest stage. The tournament has provided valuable experience for the squad and highlighted the potential of several emerging players, laying a strong foundation for the future of New Zealand football.

With the All Whites missing out on a place in the Round of 32, attention now turns to the remaining teams as they continue their pursuit of World Cup glory.

The opening day of the knockout stage delivered plenty of drama. It was heartbreak for both Germany and the Netherlands, who were eliminated in penalty shootouts as Paraguay and Morocco advanced to the next round.

Brazil and Canada were the only teams to secure victories in regular time. Brazil edged Japan 2–1 with a dramatic late winner, while Canada claimed a hard-fought 1–0 win over South Africa to book their place in the next round.

The second day of the Round of 32 promises even more exciting football as the remaining knockout matches determine who will advance and complete the next stage of the tournament bracket.

As the World Cup progresses, every match becomes more significant. For teams whose journey has come to an end, the wait for another opportunity on football's biggest stage begins—a four-year countdown to the next FIFA World Cup. Regardless of the outcome, every player and team should take pride in reaching the world's premier football tournament and the achievements they have accomplished along the way.

As we are on the journey to maintain a balance between soccer and chess, finding a featured chess player from every country can sometimes be challenging, but one player who stands out is Grandmaster Anish Giri from the Netherlands.

Anish Giri is widely respected for his consistent performances, deep opening preparation, and accurate positional play. He has established himself as one of the world's strongest chess players, regularly competing in elite international tournaments against the best grandmasters.

One of Giri's recent achievements has been earning 2nd place at the prestigious Candidates Tournament 2026 . Students can learn many valuable lessons from Anish Giri's approach to chess as he  demonstrates the importance of patience and careful planning.

On a personal front, alongside my passion for chess, football continues to be a major interest, particularly during the FIFA World Cup, a passion that has been nurtured through my family.