The first-ever round of 32 has concluded successfully, and the World Cup steps up a level: the round of 16. As we saw in the first knockout stage, no team is immune to surprises (just ask the Netherlands and Germany). So here is the complete guide with the matches ranked from most attractive to least attractive. Although at this stage, you really cannot skip any game.

8. Canada - Morocco

Saturday, 20:00

Morocco passed a very tough test against the Netherlands, while Canada had an easier path against South Africa. The Canadians will certainly hope the Moroccans arrive drained after 120 minutes and penalties, but it is not certain that is a safe bet. Morocco remains one of the most talented and resilient teams in the tournament, with fresh memories of their historic semifinal run in the previous World Cup. The match will be played in Houston, so Canada's home advantage may not prove decisive. Can they pull off an upset? It is doubtful. Most likely Morocco will again look like a team that is very hard to beat.

7. Switzerland - Colombia

Tuesday, 23:00

Whether at the Euros or the World Cup, Switzerland somehow always reaches the knockout rounds. Perhaps the most underrated national team in world football relative to its achievements, one that does not always receive the recognition it deserves. It benefited from a relatively favorable draw to get here, and while that may not sound like a major feat, plenty of teams have failed even that. In the World Cup, Switzerland has not reached the quarterfinals since 1954, and now it has a chance to break that ceiling. Colombia, on the other hand, has done excellent work from the start of the tournament and completed a third 1-0 victory in the first knockout stage against Ghana. It opened convincingly with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan but has since managed only one goal per match. Still, its overall football has been far more impressive than the scores suggest. Against Switzerland, however, one must never be complacent. Never.

6. USA - Belgium

Between Monday and Tuesday, 3:00

The USA impressed on its way here and dispatched Bosnia convincingly 2-0 in the previous round. The problem: it will have to manage without one of its standout players, Folarin Balogun, who was sent off in that match. Now comes its biggest challenge yet.

Belgium, by contrast, hardly impressed at all until it suddenly received a moment that could change an entire tournament. It was already heading home against Senegal, trailing 2-0 until the 86th minute, but then came back from nowhere to make it 2-2 and won 3-2 in extra time. It looked flat and then came alive right after Kevin De Bruyne left the pitch. Sometimes that is exactly the game that turns a team from despair to euphoria. Suddenly the Belgians can start to believe. Lukaku is still here, folks.

5. Paraguay - France

Between Saturday and Sunday, 00:00

Paraguay caused a sensation by eliminating Germany with very defensive football, plenty of character, and no small amount of luck in the penalty shootout. Against France, that is an entirely different task. Unlike Germany, the French have looked good at almost every stage of the tournament: cohesive, mature, sparkling, and of course with Kylian Mbappe competing for the Golden Boot while hoping to become the all-time leading scorer in the competition.

Many will remember the previous meeting between the sides at the World Cup: the round of 16 in France 1998, when Paraguay defended desperately after its legendary goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert was sent off, until Laurent Blanc scored in the 113th minute. This time too, if Paraguay wants any chance, it will need to drag France into those same territories.

4. Argentina - Egypt

Tuesday, 19:00

After a dream group stage, Argentina sweated for the first time in the tournament when it was taken to extra time in a dramatic 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the first knockout round. Argentina and Lionel Messi, who has already scored seven goals in the current tournament and continues to lead the all-time scoring chart with 20, want and need to keep their momentum going in the round of 16 against Egypt and Mohamed Salah. Egypt eliminated Australia in a penalty shootout after a third 1-1 draw of the tournament and made history with its first-ever qualification to the last 16.

The last time the teams met was in March 2008 in a friendly, when the light-blue-and-white side won 2-0. Of course, the Argentines are again clear favorites against the Pharaohs, who dream of further history against all odds with a first-ever quarterfinal berth.

3. Mexico - England

Between Sunday and Monday, 3:00

England truly impressed only against Croatia. The rest of the time it cruised comfortably until Congo woke it up with a 1-0 lead, only to suffer a heroic turnaround from Harry Kane that reminded everyone why many consider him one of the best players in the world today.

England knows the Azteca Stadium well, and not necessarily for the best reasons: the "Hand of God" and Diego Maradona's slalom goal in 1986 were scored there against it. This time it will not face Diego, but a red-hot host that made the most of its favorable draw and has looked excellent so far. Mexico has not advanced past the round of 16 since 1986, and now has a huge opportunity to do so at home. On the other hand, England needs a performance in which it declares it is truly going all the way. This should be that match. Will it break millions of hearts and celebrate at the end with Oasis? It is entirely possible.

2. Brazil - Norway

Sunday, 23:00

Wow, what a match. The last time the two sides met at the World Cup was also Norway's last appearance in the tournament: it stunned Brazil 2-1 in the group stage in 1998 and advanced, while Brazil itself reached the final.

Both secured dramatic wins in the previous round, yet both were superior to their opponents for most of the match. Brazil proved to itself that it has character with a 2-1 victory over Japan, while Erling Haaland showed there is no such thing as karma with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.

Will Carlo Ancelotti succeed in stopping Haaland, or will he simply send Vinicius to do what he does best on the other side? Either way, this promises to be a game with a big story, and the timing is relatively convenient too.

1. Portugal - Spain

Monday, 22:00

This is the match not to be missed. Two teams that will co-host the next World Cup together with Morocco meet already for a huge clash. Their previous World Cup encounter was unforgettable: a 3-3 group-stage thriller in Russia 2018 that included a magnificent hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal survived a thriller against Croatia after a mediocre group stage. Spain tore up the pitch against Austria and showed what happens when it plays vertically as well as horizontally. Every match could be Ronaldo's last at the World Cup, and facing him will be the player expected to lead football in the coming years: Lamine Yamal.

But it is not only Cristiano against Lamine. Portugal has a battery of stars that proved itself against Croatia, while Spain possesses pace, depth, and the confidence of European champions. At age 41, can Ronaldo rise again and eliminate Spain? Will Lamine Yamal receive his first truly big World Cup moment? And can this possibly end without drama? All these questions lead to one answer: this is the biggest game of the round. With a bonus: a kickoff time we are used to.