Available in USThe Round of 32 signed off on July 3 with three ties that ranged from the nerve-shredding to the historic, and by the final whistle the entire Round of 16 bracket was locked in. Argentina came within minutes of the exit before rescuing themselves in extra time, Egypt booked a place in the knockouts they had never reached, and Colombia did just enough. If you are setting your card for the last 16 — Canada’s tie with Morocco included — here is what happened and how the markets reacted overnight.
Argentina 3–2 Cape Verde — A Genuine Scare
This was supposed to be routine and it was anything but. Lionel Messi opened the scoring at 29 minutes, but Cape Verde — the tournament’s great story — refused to fold: Duarte levelled at 59′, and after Lautaro Martínez put Argentina back ahead at 92′, Lopes Cabral forced extra time with a 103rd-minute equaliser. It took a Cristian Romero header at 111′, from a Messi corner, to finally settle it.
Messi, the men’s all-time World Cup top scorer, has now found the net in eight consecutive World Cup matches and remains the tournament’s marquee name. Argentina advance, but the manner of it — three goals conceded across the knockout escape — is a flashing warning light ahead of a last-16 date with Egypt.
Egypt Make History; Colombia Squeeze Through
Egypt produced the day’s feel-good story. A 1–1 draw with Australia after extra time — Ashour’s early opener cancelled by a Hany own goal — went to penalties, where Egypt held their nerve to win 4–2, Mohamed Salah converting in the shootout. It is Egypt’s best World Cup run since 1934 and a first-ever trip to the knockout rounds.
Colombia were more efficient. Jhon Arias struck early at 14 minutes and a disciplined Colombia saw out a 1–0 win over Ghana to reach the last 16 unbeaten. The market took note: Colombia were cut sharply overnight into the 28.00–35.00 range, now rated among the most respected dark horses left in the draw.
What the Players Said
Egypt’s night carried real emotion, and Salah captured it. "It’s history. I told the boys before the game ‘this is the biggest stage you can play in your life so just enjoy it,’" he told Sky Sports, before adding: "I don’t know if it’s my last World Cup or not, so I had to do it."
There was grace in defeat, too. Australia head coach Tony Popović said: "It’s tough. We showed the world that Australian football is strong, they’re a wonderful group and I’m devastated for them." And Messi, after his own side’s escape, was pointed: "We knew this would be a very tough match. In the World Cup, no one gives you anything for free."
The Overnight Odds Snapshot
With the bracket complete, the outright market has tightened around France, and the Golden Boot race has a new favourite after Kylian Mbappé’s weekend brace.
| Market | Selection | Odds (decimal) | As of (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outright winner | France | 2.80 | July 4, 2026 |
| Outright winner | Argentina | 4.70 | July 4, 2026 |
| Outright winner | Colombia | 28.00–35.00 | July 4, 2026 |
| Golden Boot | Kylian Mbappé | 2.25 | July 4, 2026 |
| Golden Boot | Lionel Messi | 2.40 | July 4, 2026 |
Source: FanDuel / FOX Sports / Oddspedia media summaries, decimal converted to the Canadian standard. Ranges shown where books differ; confirm the live price before staking.
What It Means for Canada
The bigger picture for our readers is simple: the Round of 16 is now set, and Canada open it today against Morocco in Houston. The rest of the bracket clarifies Canada’s potential path — win, and a quarter-final against the Paraguay–France winner follows on July 9.
- Argentina survived Cape Verde 3–2 after extra time (Romero, 111′) but conceded three across the tie.
- Egypt reached a first-ever World Cup knockout round, beating Australia 4–2 on penalties.
- Colombia beat Ghana 1–0 and were cut into ~34.00 as a live dark horse.
- The Round of 16 field is complete; France (2.80) is the clear outright favourite.
- Canada’s own last-16 tie with Morocco kicks off the round today in Houston.
Catch the full slate in our July 4 predictions, the local angle in our Canada vs Morocco preview, and track the futures on the World Cup 2026 odds hub.
Odds are for information only and reflect media-reported lines as of July 4, 2026. Markets move quickly during a tournament. Please bet responsibly — 19+ and only where legal in your province. New customers can compare current World Cup pricing with partners such as Betibet and Spinit, with all stakes and returns in CAD.
