From prayers on the pitch to cursing the opposing team, faith and religious belief have been prominent this World Cup.
![From prayers on the pitch to cursing the opposing team, faith and religious belief have been prominent this World Cup. [Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/image-1782927710.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
FIFA World Cup group stage is now behind us with plenty of key talking points as the tournament enters the knockouts.
Your team is five wins away from winning the 2026 World Cup. Build your path round by round to the final.
Knockout matches begin with South Africa vs Canada as Iran exit, Africa make history, Messi-Ronaldo final hopes rise.
Neither South Africa nor Canada has reached the knockout rounds of a World Cup before, but now a last-16 place awaits.
All the qualified teams and match schedule for the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on Sunday.
South Africa and Canada are both competing in the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time.
Senegal currently hold the fifth-best record of third-place teams based on their plus-2 goal differential.
Rising rents and prices outpacing wages provoke global debate: Is housing a basic right or an investment asset?
Toronto’s Mabrey matches A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage for the league’s scoring record in 125-97 win for her team.
Madibo’s tackle on Kone in the team’s Group B match left the Canadian player with a broken leg.
