Two more quarter-final spots are up for grabs on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 July, as England take on Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca while Erling Haaland and Norway bid to pull off a stunning upset against five-time world champions Brazil at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The winners of the two last 16 encounters will meet in a quarter-final in Miami.

Haaland the danger man

In New Jersey, Brazil face a Norway side built around the irresistible form of Erling Haaland, who has plundered five goals in three appearances at the tournament.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti was relaxed when asked how his defenders planned to handle the Manchester City striker, noting that both Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos had faced Haaland repeatedly at club level.

“Everyone knows how he works,” Ancelotti said. “I have nothing to explain to my defenders.”

Norway coach Stale Solbakken urged his players to focus on the football rather than the magnitude of the occasion.

“We need to make sure that we don’t play according to the occasion, but that we simply play the match,” he said, adding that Brazil, while favourites, were not as formidable as they once were.

The match kicks-off at 22:00 on Sunday 5 July (South African time).

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History in Mexico City

England’s clash with Mexico has been one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures of the tournament, with Thomas Tuchel’s side returning to the Azteca 40 years after the infamous “Hand of God” game against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup.

The Three Lions stuttered into the last 16, needing a late Harry Kane double to squeeze past the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1. They entered the tournament dreaming of ending a 60-year wait for a major title but have yet to convince.

Now they face a Mexico side that has won all four of their home matches without conceding a single goal.

Meanwhile, El Tri’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador delivered their first knockout stage win in 40 years and an expectant home crowd will be roaring them on to go further.

Tuchel has also flagged the challenge of altitude, with the Azteca sitting 2 240 m above sea level. “The altitude will be a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days – it’s just impossible,” he said ahead of the trip to Mexico City.

Yet the occasion has clearly stirred something in the England camp. “It just catches you straight away once you get in here and see the excitement and the emotions,” Tuchel said after visiting the stadium on Saturday. “I felt straight away that this will be a proper World Cup match.”

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was characteristically blunt in response, insisting altitude would be irrelevant and the game would simply come down to “11 versus 11”.

The 67-year-old acknowledged England’s quality – ranked fourth in the world to Mexico’s 10th – but said his side would need to play a “near-perfect match” to advance.

Kick-off is scheduled for Monday 6 July at 02:00 (South African time), with FIFA confirming the timing despite forecasts of thunderstorms over Mexico City around kick-off.

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