Rafael Leão sent off for punching in friendly Portugal vs Chile

Key day in the round of 32

This Thursday, July 2, three matches of the 2026 World Cup will be played. Only one can be seen on open television in Mexico: Spain against Austria, at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time).

The rest of the matches are broadcast exclusively on the ViX World Cup pass. At 5:00 p.m. Portugal and Croatia collide. Later, at 9:00 p.m., Switzerland faces Algeria at BC Place in Vancouver.

The farewell of a star

Portugal vs Croatia has a special meaning. It will be the farewell of the tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, two historical figures. Only one will advance to the round of 16.

The teams already qualified for the next round are: Canada, Morocco, Paraguay, France, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, England, United States and Belgium.

Thursday schedules:

• Spain vs Austria | 1:00 p.m. | Azteca 7, Channel 5 and ViX.
• Portugal vs Croatia | 5:00 p.m. | ViX.
• Switzerland vs Algeria | 9:00 p.m. | ViX.

The excitement continues at the 2026 World Cup

This Thursday the penultimate day of the round of 32 takes place. The most anticipated matches: Portugal against Croatia and Spain against Austria. The day closes with the duel between Switzerland and Algeria.

There are fewer and fewer countries left in the fight for the World Cup. Several teams have already secured their place in the round of 16. Among them, the three hosts stand out: Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Surprises and agonizing definitions

In this round there have been unexpected results. Paraguay eliminated Germany in a penalty shootout. Belgium completed a comeback against Senegal. Brazil suffered to beat Japan. And in Monterrey, Morocco and the Netherlands they also went to penalties.

Although Friday’s matches are missing, some round of 16 matches have already been defined. Here the details:

• Paraguay vs France
• Canada vs Morocco
• United States vs Belgium
• Brazil vs Norway
• Mexico vs England

The football festival continues with matches that promise more emotions. The teams are looking for their pass in this decisive phase.

The night of Quiñones

Julián Quiñones has three goals in the World Cup and was the figure in Mexico’s 2-0 victory against Ecuador. With the award for best player of the match in his hands, the forward did not hide his excitement about the classification, but he made it clear that in the locker room no one is satisfied.

The attacker took advantage of the spotlight to send a message of ambition ahead of the Round of 16. He assured that Mexico has a quality team and that, despite not having many players in Europe, the conditions are there to compete against any rival.

“What really matters tonight is the result and not the individual part. I am happy to wear this shirt and give my best. We are looking for glory and to make history. Although some of us are not in Europe, that does not mean that we are not giving our best for the National Team; just because they play there does not mean that they are better. We are making a leap at the world level,” he mentioned in the mixed zone.

Quiñones also asked the fans to maintain their unconditional support. The dedication and commitment of the group stood out.

“Because of the work and the union we have, we do not want to disappoint our families, nor the fans. Today we go out to risk our lives. The support of the people motivates us to give our best on the field,” he concluded.

The Mexican team is advancing steadily in the tournament it plays at home. With Quiñones as an offensive reference, the excitement grows for the next round.