The round of 16 was carnage. Brazil are out, Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup is over, and both host nations have fallen. Here, in depth, are the five stories that shook the tournament.
Watch the full World Cup Brief above — then dive into each of the five stories below.
1. Haaland dumps Brazil out
The shock of the tournament. Norway, at their first World Cup since 1998, knocked out Brazil 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals for the very first time in their history — and, inevitably, Erling Haaland was the man who did it. He scored twice, on 79 and 90 minutes, for his seventh and eighth goals in just four games, moving level with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi at the top of the charts despite only touching the ball four times inside the box.
It could have been so different. Brazil won an early penalty, but Vinícius handed it to Bruno Guimarães, whose spot-kick was saved by Örjan Nyland. Neymar's stoppage-time penalty came far too late. The five-time champions' dream of a record sixth title is over, and the questions around Carlo Ancelotti's side will only grow louder.
Full story: Haaland fires Norway into the last eight
2. Merino sends Ronaldo home
In a Dallas chess match, Spain beat Portugal 1-0, decided in the very last minute by super-sub Mikel Merino, who was found by fellow substitute Ferran Torres and slotted coolly past Diogo Costa. It ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup — the 41-year-old had already admitted this would be his last — a single step short of the quarter-finals.
And there was a second casualty. Within moments of the final whistle, Roberto Martínez resigned as Portugal manager, ending a three-and-a-half-year tenure. Spain, meanwhile, look quietly, ominously well drilled — and they are through, with an 18-year-old Lamine Yamal pulling the strings.
Full story: Merino breaks through where Ronaldo could not
3. Ten-man England survive the Azteca
One of England's greatest away nights. After an hour-long weather delay, and in a hostile, roaring Azteca, ten-man England edged the co-hosts Mexico 3-2. Jude Bellingham struck twice in two first-half minutes and Harry Kane added a penalty just after the hour — before Jarell Quansah's red card forced England to survive the closing stages a man down.
They rode their luck and their nerve, with Jordan Pickford crucial in goal, and held on at altitude in the most hostile atmosphere of the tournament. "It feels almost like we have won a final," said Thomas Tuchel. Norway — and Haaland — now await in the quarter-finals.
Full story: Kane loses his voice after the Mexico win
4. The hosts crash out
Belgium made a statement, thrashing the United States 4-1 in Seattle to knock the hosts out. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, with Hans Vanaken and a late Romelu Lukaku strike also on the mark, as the American backline was overmatched all night.
It came after a chaotic build-up — FIFA controversially suspended Folarin Balogun's red-card ban to let him play, a decision that left UEFA and the Belgian FA astonished. But on the night, Balogun was anonymous, completely outshone by De Ketelaere. For the tournament's biggest host, it's a chastening end on home soil; for Belgium, a quarter-final with Spain awaits.
Full story: De Ketelaere outshines Balogun as Belgium eliminate the USA
5. The last co-host falls
Morocco ended Canada's dream too, winning 3-0 in Houston with an Azzedine Ounahi double and a late Soufiane Rahimi third. With both co-hosts now gone, the African side march into the quarter-finals, unbeaten and full of belief after their history-making run to the semi-finals four years ago.
Canada, for their part, leave with their heads held high — a landmark run to the last 16 on home soil, a golden era emerging around Jonathan David, and a platform, they hope, for the game to keep growing at home.
Full story: Ounahi stars in Morocco's 3-0 win over Canada
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Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 7 outlets. How we work →