By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
THE 2026 World Cup today Saturday goes into its round of 16 games showing 32 teams have been sent home nay the real men have been dutifully separated from the boys.
A gritty 88 games have been played of which 257 goals or 2.92 goals per match were scored which is the highest since 1958 if you reckon that the round of 16 stages used to mark the beginning of the knockout stages.
Megastar Lionel Messi of Argentina is the highest scorer with 7 goals followed by Kylian Mbappe of France with 6 goals and two players have scored 5 goals each namely Harry Keane of England and Erling Haaland of Norway. We still have four matches to know who will take home the Golden Ball for the highest scorer.
There were 14 own goals scored and most jittery player in Mohammed Hany of Egypt who played like the famous Escobar is still in the game scoring two own goals against Australia and Belgium.
Three teams are currently the highest team scorers with 10 goals each namely France, Germany and Netherlands. Six teams followed scoring 8 goals each namely USA, Argentina, Canada, Norway, Brazil and Senegal.
I think I lost count calculating the list of the BAD BOYS, a terminology for players that saw red cards. South Africa produced three bad boys, Qatar and Paraguay had two each.
The world today July 4 is celebrating the 250th Independence of the United States of America which is one of the host countries and is still standing.
Football chiefs will pop up wine with United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump who has agreed to present the trophy to the winning country as the grande finale has been scheduled to take place in America in this tournament hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
With a total attendances of 5,702,686 fans or 64,803 per match already as at the end of the Columbia versus Ghana match, USA may have a yeoman’s job to do with crowd control and security checks for the finals and with Iran that has been a thorn at the real war front out of the tournament football lovers can sleep with their eyes closed and even be snoring.
Here is the schedule for the round of 16 games:
1 Can vs Mor today @ 6.00pm.
2 Par vs Fra today @ 10.00pm
3 Bra vs Nor Sunday @ 9.00pm
4 Mex vs Eng Monday @ 1.00am
5 Por vs Spa Monday @ 8.00pm
6 USA vs Bel Tuesday @ 1.00am
7 Arg vs Egy Tuesday @ 5.00pm
8 Swi vs Col Tuesday @ 9.00pm
Please note that FIFA may change time schedules because of the hot weather in the various countries.
The 16 teams that were sent out of the round of 32 stages will receive $11m each while the eight teams that will be definitely sent home after the round of 16 games will receive $15m each from FIFA.
#FIFA #2026WORLDCUP #EUFA
#AFC #CAF #CONMEBOL #CONCACAF.
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