Live: Brazil takes on Japan in tasty last-32 clash in Houston

Morocco stays alive in the World Cup after defeating the Netherlands in a pulsating penalty shootout.

Paraguay knocked Germany out of the tournament, beating the four-time world champions in a dramatic sudden-death penalty shootout.

Earlier, Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 96th minute to break Japanese hearts and secure a 2-1 Round of 32 win for the Seleção.

Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

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Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:31pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:31pm

That's where we'll leave you

By Simon Smale

So, a dramatic day of action for you all.

Two penalty shoot outs and a thrilling winner in normal time.

Doesn't get much better than that.

Congratulations to Morocco, Paraguay and Brazil for reaching the last 16.

The Dutch, Germans and Japanese will have to go back to the drawing board.

Thanks as ever for being with us, we'll be back bright and early tomorrow morning for Côte d'Ivoire vs Norway in Dallas, with kick off at 3:00am AEST.

If you hate sleep and love football as much as we do, I hope you'll join us then.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

Three more games to come tomorrow

By Simon Smale

3:00am AEST (2:20am ACST, 1:00am AWST) — R32: Côte d'Ivoire vs Norway @ Dallas Stadium

7:00am AEST (6:30am ACST, 5:00am AWST) — R32: France vs Sweden @ New Jersey Stadium

11:00am AEST (10:30am ACST, 9:00am AWST) — R32: Mexico vs Ecuador @ Mexico City Stadium

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

Morocco claims memorable win

By Simon Smale

- Reuters

Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup last 16 after their Round of 32 tie ended 1-1 following extra time, setting up a meeting with co-hosts Canada.

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.

Morocco's Neil El Aynaoui and Dutch substitute Justin Kluivert missed their attempts before Bart Verbruggen appeared to save Soufiane Rahimi's effort, only for the ball to squirm underneath him and trickle over the line.

Quinten Timber then put the ball wide with the Dutch side's fourth kick, Achraf Hakimi struck the post with the chance to seal victory before Saibari kept his nerve to send Morocco through.

The shootout capped a gripping encounter in Monterrey that swung repeatedly in both teams' favour, with Cody Gakpo's emotional second-half opener cancelled out by Issa Diop's stoppage-time header before neither team could find a winner in extra time.

Morocco fashioned the better chances before the break, with goalkeeper Verbruggen producing a series of outstanding saves to deny Ayoub Bouaddi's close-range header and Neil El Aynaoui's powerful effort.

At the other end, Bounou was finally called into action to parry Micky van de Ven's long-range strike.

Hakimi rattled the crossbar and forced another save from Verbruggen as the Dutch struggled to contain the full back's runs from deep before Ronald Koeman's introduction of Wout Weghorst gave his side a much-needed focal point in attack.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:28pm

Heartbroken Dutch players

By Simon Smale

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:23pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:23pm

Penalty shootout, VAR controversy make for German nightmare

By Simon Smale

Speaking of Germany, their exit makes a fair portion of our quick hits this morning.

If you want a digestible catch up of everything that's happened today, check out the quick hits here.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:22pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:22pm

Upsets galore

By Simon Smale

Wow, two massive upsets on the same day - when was the last time, if ever, that neither Germany nor the Netherlands didn't make the last 16 (acknowledging the different format of this tournament with 48 teams)??

- Sean5

Actually not that long ago - 2018 actually, when Germany went out in the group stage and the Netherlands didn't even qualify.

This is the third tournament in a row that Germany hasn't made the last 16.

Before that, the only time they didn't make the knock out rounds of a World Cup tournament was in 1950, when they were banned from entering.

They were knocked out in the first round in 1936, in fairness, but there were only 15 teams that entered, so I guess by default they were already in the last 16...

It must be said, I don't think the Netherlands being beaten by Morocco is an upset.

They're ranked next to each other inside the top 10 on the FIFA rankings and this was just a good game between two good teams.

Paraguay beating Germany? That's definitely a shock.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:16pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:16pm

Morocco deserved to go through

By Simon Smale

I think based on the overall balance of the game, the Moroccans deserved to win.

The Dutch went away from the tactics that had served them so well in the group stage and their five at the back definitely stymied some of their attacking options.

Although possession was pretty even early on, as the game went on Morocco gradually suffocated the Dutch team and pushed them further and further back.

The goal came against the run of play really, and Morocco were fully deserving of their late equaliser.

In extra time only one team looked like it would win it.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:09pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:09pm

Full time stats

By Simon Smale

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm

Incredible game

By Simon Smale

What a fantastic game Netherlands v Morocco.

My nerves are shot.

Shame there had to be a winner.

Such a high standard

- Catherine

Seems remarkable that was a Round of 32 clash and not later in the tournament.

But that's knock out football, I guess.

The quality of both teams was outstanding, both teams gave it a go.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:05pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:05pm

Dutch distraught

By Simon Smale

There are two sides to every coin though.

The Dutch are absolutely distraught.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:02pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 2:02pm

The Moroccans are overcome with joy

By Simon Smale

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:55pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:55pm

MOROCCO HAS DONE IT AGAIN!

By Simon Smale

They have made it to the round of 16 rounds and they have overcome one of the best teams in the world to do it!

The hero is Ismael Saibari.

The hero is Yassine Bounou.

The heroes are all the Moroccan players!

Key Event

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:54pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:54pm

MOROCCO WINS ON PENALTIES

By Simon Smale

Key Event

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:54pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:54pm

SAIBARI SLOTS HOME!

By Simon Smale

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:53pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:53pm

Ismael Saibari to win it

By Simon Smale

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:53pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:53pm

SUMMERVILLE SEES HIS SHOT SAVED!

By Simon Smale

Summerville with a long run up.

SAVED!

Summerville powered the ball high and straight and Bounou sticks up one big hand to keep him out!

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:52pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:52pm

HAKIMI MISSES!

By Simon Smale

Achraf Hakimi HITS THE POST!

OH, MY GOODNESS!

It's the base of the right post!

We're back on level terms at 2-2, essentially sudden death now!

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:51pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:51pm

TIMBER SENDS IT WIDE!

By Simon Smale

Quinten Timber misses the target completely!

The Moroccans are so close!

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:50pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:50pm

TALBI TAKES OFF!

By Simon Smale

Chemsdine Talbi with a gorgeous strike!

So confident, he sends it high into the top corner past Vebruggen.

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:49pm

Tue 30 Jun 2026 at 1:49pm

WEGHORST POWERS IN!

By Simon Smale

Wout Weghorst as calm as you like!

What a penalty, powering the ball into the top corner, beating the dive of the keeper.

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