Twenty-seven days and 96 games later, the FIFA men’s World Cup (WC) quarter-finals (QFs) are set. Today’s the first day in a while without a game, so take the respite to check on your bracket and read up on the upcoming matches, plus how the final two teams clinched their spots.

ICYMI, No. 30 CanMNT’s World Cup (WC) journey is over following Saturday’s 3–0 loss to No. 6 Morocco in the Round of 16. The scoreline doesn’t reflect how well Canada played, particularly in the first half, but we’re not here to file grievances today; we’re choosing to celebrate this historic run instead.

And just like that, the Round of 16 is nearly over. Here are the highlights from the long weekend, plus a look at the final three games before the quarter-finals (QF) begin on Thursday.

Just when you thought the FIFA men’s World Cup (WC) couldn’t get any better, Monday happened. All three Round of 32 games went into extra time, with Brazil sending Japan home via a stoppage time stunner and the other two tilts going to penalty kicks (PK) after 1–1 full-time draws.

The USMNT unlocked a new level of success in the World Cup (WC) group stage, and now they have the opportunity to do something they’ve only achieved once in their history: win a WC knockout game. They’ll take on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) in the Round of 32 tonight at 8 p.m. ET with even more history on the line — and from here on out, this tourney is win-or-go-home.

The World Cup (WC) knockout rounds began yesterday when Canada kicked off the Round of 32 with a bit of history — and there’s more to be made as the remaining 30 squads fight for a berth to the Round of 16 today through Friday.

It’s a rare and special moment when soccer is the mainstream sport in North America, one American soccer (specifically, the NWSL) wants to sustain after the crowds head home. In May, the women’s soccer league announced its Summer of Soccer initiative to capitalize on WC fervor. In June, we spoke to NWSL CMO Rachel Epstein about why the league has “locked arms” with FIFA and how the tourney can be an entry point for sustained footy fandom.

CanMNT will compete in a World Cup (WC) knockout match for the very first time, taking on South Africa in the Round of 32 today at 3 p.m. ET. It’s a beautiful day to extend this run one page further in the history books.

Last Friday, the USMNT beat Australia 2–0 to clinch their spot in the knockouts. The dub marked their first back-to-back World Cup (WC) wins since the Great Depression and they did it without their star, Christian Pulisic. Wowza. The boys have one group stage game left — tonight at 10 p.m. ET against already-eliminated Türkiye — and while it doesn’t technically mean anything as the U.S. have already won Group D, a W would be a huge boost for the surging Yanks.