Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, celebrates after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Underdog Cape Verde nearly pushed Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina to a penalty shootout before falling 3-2 in extra time on the final day of the Round of 32. Earlier Friday, Egypt was perfect on four attempts in a shootout to eliminate Australia and win its debut in the World Cup knockout round. And Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 to become the final team to reach the Round of 16.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) and teammates celebrate after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) scores their first goal against Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores the opening goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) shoots the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)Cape Verde’s Diney Borges (3) battles with Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Cape Verde head coach Bubista looks on during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Argentina in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) battles with Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte (14) and Ryan Mendes (20) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte (14) scores their opening goal against Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez (6) and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) collides with Cape Verde’s Kevin Pina (6) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Cape Verde’s Gilson Benchimol (9) takes a shot against Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Argentina during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Argentina’s Facundo Medina (25) heads the ball against Cape Verde’s Jamiro Monteiro (10) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez, right, celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Cape Verde during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral (13) and Jamiro Monteiro (10) react to a loss during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Egypt’s Hossam Abdelmaguid (4) celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in a shootout during World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)Egypt players celebrates winning a penalty shootout against Australia during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Australia’s Harry Souttar reacts after misses a penalty during a shootout at the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)Australia’s Harry Souttar misses a penalty kick during a shootout against Egypt in a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Egypt’s Emam Ashour (8) celebrates with Omar Marmoush after scoring the opening goal during a World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Egypt’s Emam Ashour (8) scores their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)Egypt’s Emam Ashour (8) scores the opening goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach (18) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Egypt players bow in prayer after scoring opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)Australia’s Awer Mabil views the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (10) comforts Australia’s Aziz Behich after Australia lost a penalty shootout following their World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Egypt’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning a penalty shootout against Australia following a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Colombia’s Jhon Arias (11) reacts after scoring his team’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Ghana’s Derrick Luckassen (23) falls during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Colombia’s Johan Mojica (17) kicks the ball over Ghana’s Inaki Williams for the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Colombia’s Jhon Lucumi, right, and Ghana’s Prince Adu battle for the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo (11) battles for the ball Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma (16) and Daniel Munoz (2) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Colombia’s Johan Mojica, top left, comforts Ghana’s Thomas Partey at the end of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)Colombia’s Johan Mojica (17) celebrates as he wrings out his shirt before giving it to a fan after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
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