Never before has there been a Round of 32 at a World Cup. It certainly delivered. There was penalty shootout drama, late winners galore and upsets to boot.

This is where we stand with just over two weeks of the tournament in North America still to play…

France set the pace

Co-hosts Canada were the first team to seal their place in the Round of 16, edging a stodgy affair against South Africa in Los Angeles 1-0.

Jesse Marsch’s side will meet Morocco in Houston in the first Round of 16 tie on Saturday. The African side dramatically defeated the Netherlands on penalties after an engrossing contest finished 1-1 after extra-time. They are hoping to better their semi-final appearance in Qatar four years ago.

Malo Gusto has played in three of France’s four games so far as they’ve marched into this stage of the competition with the minimum of fuss.

Les Bleus cruised past Graham Potter’s Sweden 3-0 and will now face a Paraguay side that stunned Germany in the last 32, winning a penalty shootout after a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

Super Sunday

There are two mouthwatering ties taking place on Sunday. First up it’s Brazil against Norway in New Jersey. Carlo Ancelotti’s Selecao required a stoppage-time winner to get past Japan 2-1 in their first knockout game, while Norway also left it late to beat Ivory Coast by the same scoreline.

On Sunday night in Mexico City (1am on Monday morning UK time) the co-hosts Mexico play England. Mexico are the only team besides France and Argentina to have won four games out of four. They were impressive in seeing off Moises Caicedo’s Ecuador in the Round of 16, registering a comfortable 2-0 win.

In beating DR Congo 2-1, Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions came from behind to win a World Cup game for the first time since the 1966 final. It was far from plain sailing, though, with a late Harry Kane brace required to progress.

An Iberian derby on Monday pits two of the tournament favourites against one another. Spain eased past Austria 3-0, winning their first knockout game at a World Cup since they lifted the trophy in 2010.

Neto and Fernandez's hopes alive

Portugal, for whom Pedro Neto has started each game, come into the tie off the back of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia. Another stoppage-time winner settled that one, although Croatia will be cursing their luck having had an even later equaliser chalked off for offside, and prior to that missed several chances to seal victory having gone in front.

USA joined their fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico in the last 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. They will be without top scorer Folarin Balogun for their tie against Belgium, though, after the striker was sent off.

The Red Devils were 2-0 down to Senegal with four minutes of their last-32 tie remaining, but improbably came back to eventually triumph. Youri Tielemans converted a penalty deep into stoppage time at the end of extra-time, breaking the hearts of Mamadou Sarr and Nicolas Jackson but ensuring Mike Penders’ tournament goes on.

Switzerland are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for a fourth time when they meet Colombia in Vancouver on Tuesday having beaten Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 16. Colombia, meanwhile, were good value for their 1-0 success over Ghana.

Enzo Fernandez has started three of Argentina’s games so far as the world champions try and retain their crown won in Qatar in 2022. They needed extra-time to get past plucky Cape Verde in their last-32 tie. Standing in the way of Enzo, Messi and co next are Egypt, who overcame Australia on penalties after a 1-1 draw. That game is on Tuesday in Atlanta, with the winners playing Switzerland or Colombia.

World Cup last-16 ties

Canada v Morocco – Saturday 4 July, 6pm

France v Paraguay – Saturday 4 July, 10pm

Brazil v Norway – Sunday 5 July, 9pm

Mexico v England – Monday 6 July, 1am

Portugal v Spain – Monday 6 July, 8pm

USA v Belgium – Tuesday 7 July, 1am

Argentina v Egypt – Tuesday 7 July, 5pm

Switzerland v Colombia – Tuesday 7 July, 9pm

(all times UK)