World Cup Nights: Morocco thrash Canada, Mbappe sinks Paraguay and passes Messi. Brazil and Mexico tonight

A night of Cup football that opens the last 16. In Houston, 2022 semi-finalists Morocco eliminate co-hosts Canada with an Ounahi brace (3-0). In Philadelphia, a single Kylian Mbappe penalty is enough to see off Paraguay (1-0): the Frenchman draws level with and overtakes Messi atop the scoring chart. The quarter-final will be France-Morocco. From tonight, Italian time, it's Brazil-Norway and Mexico-England.

It began at Houston's NRG Stadium, where co-hosts Canada's dream faded in the second half. After a balanced, niggly first half - more cards than shots on target - Azzedine Ounahi settled it: on 50' he broke the deadlock from a free-kick delivered by Achraf Hakimi, then on 82' he wrapped it up on the counter for 2-0. In stoppage time, on 90'+8', Brahim Diaz sent through Soufiane Rahimi for a final 3-0. Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022, are back in the last eight; for Canada, after a historic run, it's the end of a tournament to remember all the same. 'We were the better team,' said head coach Jesse Marsch, stung by the emphatic scoreline.

In Philadelphia, on American Independence Day, France laboured but got through. Against a Paraguay side that had dumped out Germany and sat deep, in stifling heat (close to 40 degrees), Les Bleus kept crashing into the Albirroja wall. It took VAR to unlock it: on 70' Diego Gomez brought down Desire Doue in the box and Kylian Mbappe coolly converted the penalty. A spot-kick worth the 1-0 and the quarters - France's fourth in a row - but above all Mbappe's seventh goal of the tournament, drawing level with and passing Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring chart (19 World Cup goals in 19 appearances). Paraguay lost their heads late with a string of brutal challenges, and some spoke of a 'disgrace': the Bleus breathed a sigh of relief.

The quarter-final picture is taking shape: Thursday brings France-Morocco, a rematch of that 2022 World Cup. Meanwhile, eyes turn to those still to play. Mexico reach the last 16 with a flawless record - four wins, eight goals scored and none conceded - and have not lost a competitive home game since 2013: a stat that looms large ahead of the England clash. The big unknown remains the Azteca's altitude, where the thin air of Mexico City could be an extra weapon.

But the real headline is that from tonight, Italian time, the last 16 comes alive. It starts at 22:00 with Brazil-Norway at the MetLife Stadium: the five-time world champions, fresh from a scare against Japan, take on an Erling Haaland in full World Cup mode. Then at 02:00 the main course: Mexico-England at the iconic Azteca, home advantage and altitude in the mix. And the round rolls on: Monday the Iberian derby Portugal-Spain (21:00, Dallas) and then USA-Belgium in the small hours (without the suspended Balogun); Tuesday closes with Argentina-Egypt (18:00) and Switzerland-Colombia (22:00).

On we go, one night at a time. See you tomorrow at dawn.

TransferBeat aggregates transfer news citing the original sources. Developing story.