The use of technology has been at the heart of every major controversy at the tournament, including the saga around the red card for Folarin Balogun that drew in U.S. President Donald Trump.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said on Thursday that Belgium would provide his side's sternest test yet in the World Cup quarter-finals, with his team having reached the last eight without conceding a goal.
A disappointed Morocco said they had hoped to progress past the World Cup quarter-finals, but had to accept they lost to a better team as France eliminated them 2-0 in Thursday's tie.
Morocco have no special plans for their World Cup quarter-final against France but know they will need to match their heavily fancied opponents in all departments, coach Mohamed Ouahbi said on Wednesday.
The Egyptian Football Association said on Wednesday it had approved a contract extension for national team coach Hossam Hassan after Egypt's successful campaign at the World Cup.
The meeting is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when France ended Morocco's historic run in Qatar, but this time the North Africans arrive not as surprise outsiders but as a confident, gifted side who have been open about their ambition to win the tournament.
The shootout swung in Switzerland's favour when their goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved Cucho Hernandez's penalty after Davinson Sanchez had earlier hit the crossbar for Colombia.
Egypt were 2-0 up with 11 minutes left of their last 16 clash against the holders Argentina, agonisingly close to one of the great World Cup upsets, only to concede three goals in the closing stages and go out.
The move thrust FIFA’s disciplinary process into the global spotlight, prompted an angry response from Belgium and ensured that one of this tournament’s biggest talking points would centre not on tactics or team selection, but on the relationship between football’s governing body and political power.
Neymar's penalty deep into stoppage time was little consolation for Brazil, for whom Bruno Guimaraes missed an early penalty as they failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1990.
Thomas Tuchel's side made it hard for themselves against the co-hosts but handed the battling Mexicans their first-ever World Cup defeat at the iconic venue to set up a last-eight clash with Norway who shocked Brazil 2-1 earlier on Sunday.
Jhon Arias scored the only goal as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in sweltering conditions in Kansas City on Friday to reach the World Cup last 16, continuing a quietly impressive campaign that has established them as dangerous outsiders.
Reigning champions Argentina were pushed to the brink by a Cape Verde side with incredible levels of resilience and needed an extra-time own goal to clinch a dramatic 3-2 victory on Friday and a place in the last 16 at the World Cup.
For all their dominance of African football, Egypt’s World Cup history has been underwhelming, so Friday’s success over Australia and progress to the last 16 will count among their finest hours.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw described football as a "cruel game" after his side's late collapse and eventual defeat by Belgium following extra time in the World Cup round of 32 on Wednesday.
Colombia will look to build on one of the strongest group-stage campaigns at the World Cup when they face Ghana in the round of 32 on Friday, but standing in their way is a familiar face in their former coach Carlos Queiroz.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said football fans around the world love watching Lamine Yamal play, but stopping the Spain winger from showcasing his talent will be one of his side's top priorities in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday.
Brazil, who will next face Norway or Ivory Coast in New Jersey on Sunday, improved after the break with Japan taking an early lead and shackling the attack of the five-times champions for much of the opening period.
Twenty-eight years later, Paraguay pulled off what the Chilavert generation could not - the South American underdogs held Germany to a 1-1 draw after extra time and then eliminated the four-times world champions on penalties.
Ismael Saibari converted the winning spot kick after Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's penalty, sending Morocco through after a dramatic contest in which they had forced extra time with a stoppage-time equaliser.
