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The run ended 3-0 to Morocco in Houston, but the numbers Canada leave behind, one in four watching and a first knockout tie in program history, tell a bigger story about a hockey country falling for football.
A first World Cup shootout won, two clean sheets in the knockouts and an unbeaten group have carried Murat Yakin's Switzerland into the last eight for the first time in 72 years. Argentina and Lionel Messi await in Kansas City.
Eighteen months after he named his own exit date, Didier Deschamps is quietly clearing out the World Cup's managerial record books. France are in the semi-finals, and the only thing still unresolved is what their manager does next.
France raised him, captained him and never capped him. Weeks after switching to Morocco, the 18-year-old Lille midfielder started a World Cup quarter-final against them, second only to Pele as the youngest ever to do so.
A header against Panama took Harry Kane past Gary Lineker as England's all-time World Cup scorer, and he managed it with barely a fuss. He goes into the quarter-final against Erling Haaland's Norway fourth in the race for the Golden Boot, two goals off the lead.
Lamine Yamal blows out 19 candles on 13 July, a day before Spain meet France in the World Cup semi-final. He has a habit of turning up against them on the big stage, even if this tournament has been quieter than his last two.
France meet Spain in Dallas on 14 July in the only confirmed semi-final. The other half of the draw is settled today, in Miami and Kansas City, with a place in the last four on the line.
For the third tournament running, France run into Spain in the knockout rounds, this time in the last four in Dallas on 14 July. Twice Lamine Yamal has settled it. Deschamps has one more go at breaking the spell.
A construction racket forced a change of base and a sickness bug thinned the squad. On the eve of the England quarter-final, the biggest match in Norway's history, the team doctor's verdict was blunt: everyone is fit.
He came off with ice on his right ankle in the 77th minute against Morocco, then waved the worry away with a flat "I'm all good." France will take him at his word, right up to the moment Deschamps names a side against Spain.
Norway have never reached a World Cup quarter-final until now. On Saturday in Miami they stand one win from the semis, with Erling Haaland in ferocious form and a depleted England to get past.
The Swiss are into a World Cup quarter-final for the first time since 1954, but a knee injury to 20-year-old Johan Manzambi leaves Murat Yakin's side facing the holders in Kansas City without their breakout star.
A second knockout winner off the bench from Mikel Merino saw Spain past a stubborn Belgium at SoFi Stadium, ending Unai Simon's 650-minute shutout streak but sending the Spanish into a semi-final with France.
Norway have reached a World Cup quarter-final for the first time in their history, powered by Erling Haaland's seven goals, and now stand one win from the semi-finals against Thomas Tuchel's England.
Lionel Messi scored and assisted as defending champions Argentina came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the World Cup quarter-final against Switzerland, a night on which the 39-year-old set fresh all-time marks in what is widely reported to be his final tournament.
For the first time in World Cup history, neither Brazil nor Germany has reached the last eight, and their absence has reshaped a bracket that now makes room for Switzerland and a first-time quarter-finalist in Norway.
Kylian Mbappe had a first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou but responded after the break with a goal and an assist as France beat Morocco 2-0 in Foxborough to reach a third straight World Cup semi-final.
FIFA and referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina publicly backed Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after US President Donald Trump questioned his integrity. The deeper controversy is FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun's ban following Trump's phone call to Gianni Infantino.
FIFA's referees committee is set to review the whole match after Egypt lodged an official complaint over the VAR calls in their 3-2 World Cup defeat by Argentina, though a mid-tournament removal of the referee looks unlikely.
