Haaland and Rodri progress as knockout stage begins

The World Cup group stage wrapped up on June 28, with 32 nations advancing to the knockout rounds. Manchester City had 16 players representing 11 different countries heading into the Round of 32.

By the time the dust settled, six of them were packing their bags.

Haaland the hero for Norway

Erling Haaland continues to carry his club form onto the international stage. The 2025/26 Premier League Golden Boot winner scored the winner for Norway in a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on June 30, latching onto a Patrick Berg pass in the 86th minute. It was his fifth goal in three World Cup matches.

Netherlands fall to Morocco on penalties

Nathan Ake started for the Netherlands but was substituted after 71 minutes as the Oranje suffered a 2-3 penalty shootout defeat to Morocco at Monterrey Stadium. Tijjani Reijnders, who joined City from AC Milan last summer, was an unused substitute.

France, England, Belgium march on

Rayan Cherki came off the bench in the 85th minute as France eased past Sweden 3-0. Michael Olise provided two assists on the night.

England beat DR Congo 2-1 on July 1, with Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly playing the full 90 minutes. James Trafford, back at his boyhood club after returning last summer, was an unused substitute. Guehi made five defensive contributions and five clearances; O'Reilly contributed three defensive actions and two clearances.

Jeremy Doku was substituted in the 56th minute as Belgium edged Senegal 3-2 in extra time.

Spain cruise; Croatia, Portugal drama

Rodri played the full match as Spain beat Austria 3-0 on July 2, completing 92% of his passes with two key passes.

Croatia's 2-1 defeat to Portugal on July 3 featured four City players. Mateo Kovacic started and was substituted in the sixth minute of added time. Josko Gvardiol came off the bench two minutes into second-half stoppage time and had a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up. Ruben Dias played the full match for Portugal, registering 10 defensive contributions and five clearances. Matheus Nunes was an unused substitute.

Algeria, Egypt, Ghana exit

Rayan Ait-Nouri played the full 90 minutes as Algeria lost 2-0 to Switzerland, making 12 defensive contributions and winning six tackles.

Omar Marmoush started for Egypt and was substituted at the beginning of the second period of extra time as the Pharaohs beat Australia 4-2 on penalties. He made one key pass with 80% pass accuracy.

Antoine Semenyo played the full match as Ghana lost 1-0 to Colombia.

What comes next

Six City players are out: Ake and Reijnders (Netherlands), Kovacic and Gvardiol (Croatia), Ait-Nouri (Algeria) and Semenyo (Ghana).

Cherki and France face Paraguay in the quarter-finals. Haaland and Norway take on Brazil on July 5. England — with Trafford, O'Reilly, Guehi and Anderson — meet Mexico on July 6. Spain face Portugal on the same day, with Dias, Nunes and Rodri on opposite sides. Doku and Belgium play USA, while Marmoush and Egypt face Argentina.