The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage continues on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, with three single-elimination round of 32 matchups.
France will face Sweden, Ivory Coast takes on Norway, and host Mexico plays Ecuador.
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Norway Returns to Knockout Stage
Norway arrived in Dallas to prepare for its first knockout game since 1998. Local police greeted the team with a rowing motion on the tarmac.
Striker Erling Haaland and nine other regulars return to the squad after resting during a group-stage loss to France.
That loss came four days after a victory over Senegal.
Team captain Martin Odegaard discussed the squad rotation on Monday ahead of a training session. He explained that management prioritized player health due to the grueling tournament schedule.
"We have to do what's best for the team.
And the manager was clear and we agreed with him, that we had a really tough game before and we have a really hard game tomorrow, and we had the chance to rotate a little bit," Odegaard said.
Norway finished second in its group, matching the placement of its upcoming opponent, Ivory Coast.
Midfielder Sander Berge expressed his support for the coaching staff's decision to rest key players during the final group match.
"Some rest, I think that was the sensible thing to do. So I'm very, very happy we did that," Berge said.
France Faces Sweden Without Key Players
France manager Didier Deschamps rejoined his team in the United States on Friday evening following the funeral of his mother in Europe.
