World Cup holders Argentina headline the final round of 32 matches at World Cup 2026 as they look to extend their 100% winning start to the tournament when they take on unbeaten debutants Cape Verde at 11pm on Friday night (all times UK).
Lionel Messi has been in scintillating form for the defending champions, who are up there with France and Spain as the favourites to lift the trophy.
But, before we look forward to Messi in Miami, Austria and Egypt duel in Dallas at 7pm, one of whom will create history by advancing from a knockout stage match for the first time in their history.
The day’s action concludes in the early hours of Saturday as Colombia face Ghana at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with kick-off scheduled for 2.30am.
Here are the key World Cup 2026 stats ahead of today’s three games.
Friday’s key stats as Lionel Messi bids to break more records
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Australia vs Egypt
- Australia key stat: The Socceroos are seeking their first knockout stage win at the third attempt.
- Egypt key stat: Mo Salah (68) needs one more goal to draw level with Egypt’s all-time top scorer Hossam Hassan (69), who just so happens to be his manager.
Australia have experienced a mixed tournament so far, consisting of a win, a defeat, and a draw. This was enough to secure second spot in Group D to send the Socceroos into the knockout stages for the third time in their last six World Cups.
The problem is, they’ve never won a knockout stage game. Both times they have made it out of the groups, they’ve lost to the eventual champions: Italy in 2006 and Argentina four years ago.
READ: Australia vs Egypt – predictions, best bets and latest odds
Egypt have never won a knockout game ever. The Pharaohs’ one and only attempt dates all the way back to the 1934 tournament – which was a straight knockout tournament anyway – when they lost 4-2 to Hungary in their only game.
In fact, Egypt have only ever won one of their 10 World Cup matches (W1 D4 L5). However, there is a new found confidence about them this time around; they are unbeaten in this edition, having collected five points en route to securing second behind Belgium in Group G.
So, both countries head into this round of 32 clash at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington bidding to make history and, in turn, set-up a last-16 clash with either holders Argentina or Cape Verde.
The Egyptians will hope that their main man Mo Salah recovers from a hamstring niggle in time. Salah created 11 chances during the group stages and has contributed with a goal involvement in six of his last nine games for his country.
He’s currently on 68 goals, meaning he requires just one more goal to draw level with Egypt’s record goalscorer, Hossam Hassan, who just so happens to be his manager.
Argentina vs Cape Verde
- Argentina key stat: Lionel Messi can draw level with Leonidas (Brazil: 1934-38), Gyorgy Sarosi (Hungary: 1934-38), and Vava (Brazil: 1958-62) as the only players to score in five successive World Cup knockout stage matches.
- Cape Verde key stat: If they win it would be the biggest World Cup upset ever in terms of World Rankings with 62 positions separating Argentina (2) from the Blue Sharks (64).
Argentina have been in fine fettle so far, racking up three wins in a dominant Group J showing. This is in part thanks to the evergreen Lionel Messi who is tied with Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot standings with six goals, albeit he has this Cape Verde game in hand.
Messi, the all-time record scorer at World Cups (19 goals), scored five times in the 2022 knockout stages, finding the back of the net in all four of those games en route to lifting the trophy four years ago. He now has the opportunity to join Leonidas (Brazil: 1934-38), Gyorgy Sarosi (Hungary: 1934-38), and Vava (Brazil: 1958-62) as the only players to score in five successive knockout stage matches.
Messi is still searching for the assist that would see him become the World Cup’s all-time outright leading assist provider, with the Argentina captain currently level with Diego Maradona on eight.
Meanwhile, Messi just needs to step onto the pitch on Friday to become the first player to ever accumulate 30 appearances at the World Cup. Speaking of milestones, Lionel Scaloni will take charge of his 100th match, bidding to claim the 73rd win of his tenure.
Argentina have reached the knockout stages for the 15th time in their history, and ninth in the last 10 editions. La Albiceleste are unbeaten in their last 11 knockout stage matches at the World Cup and Copa America combined – since losing 2-0 to Brazil in the semi-finals of 2019 Copa America – and are enjoying a run of 10 straight wins (eight to nil) in all competitions.
READ – Argentina vs Cape Verde: predictions, best bets, odds and stats
Cape Verde, in their debut tournament, may be the huge underdogs but they proved they are no pushovers, having gone through Group H unbeaten with a string of fine draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, which was enough to secure second spot behind La Roja as they become the smallest nation – 525,000 population – to ever qualify for the knockout stages. As things stand, they are the only country in history never to lose a World Cup match.
Next up is Messi and Argentina – and what an upset it would be. If the African nation do overcome the three-time winners it would rank as the biggest World Cup upset ever in terms of World Rankings – which were introduced in 1994 – with 62 positions currently separating Argentina (2) from the Blue Sharks (64).
Colombia vs Ghana
- Colombia key stat: Los Cafeteros have conceded only one goal so far and could keep three straight World Cup clean sheets for the first time.
- Ghana key stat: The Black Stars have had the fewest shots (15) and second fewest shots on target (4) at this year’s tournament.
Colombia and Ghana wrap up the round of 32 when they draw swords for the first time in Kansas City.
Colombia fended off competition from Portugal and DR Congo to secure top spot in Group K, in the process extending their winning run over African sides to four straight wins at the World Cup.
Los Cafeteros are unbeaten in eight competitive games and have have only been defeated twice in their last 16 matches in all competitions. But, they have only won once of their four knockout stage games; a 2-0 win over Uruguay en route to a best-ever quarter-final finish in 2014.
READ – Colombia vs Ghana: predictions, best bets, odds and stats
Similarly, Ghana have just one knockout stage win to their name, when they reached the quarter-finals in 2010. The Black Stars finished third behind England and Croatia in the group stages, holding the Three Lions to a goalless draw. They have, however, lost six of their last nine matches in all competitions and have lost each of their three World Cup matches against South American sides
Goals may be at a premium. Colombia have only conceded one goal so far and have kept four clean sheets in their last six World Cup matches. Ghana have struggled in front of goal, registering the fewest shots (15) and second fewest shots on target (four) at this year’s tournament – none of which have come in the first-half – and have had just 35.3% of the ball.
If a goal is scored, it could well come from full back Daniel Munoz, who has two goals in two starts this tournament, having netted in the wins against Uzbekistan and DR Congo. If he scores again he will draw level with Yerry Mina (3 in 2018) as the country’s second-highest scorer at a World Cup, behind only James Rodriguez (6 in 2014).
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