Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi: 'A Portugal vs Argentina match would be a dream final'

World Cup 2026's group phase is now over, giving rise to a fiercer segment: the round of 32 direct elimination. Coaches are now compelled to reveal their sharpest tactical secrets in order to secure advancement.

Evaluating the knockout bracket situation, Ms. Doan Thi Kim Chi, head coach of Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club, expressed her desire to see a historic scenario: a dream final between the Portuguese and Argentine national teams.

According to Coach Kim Chi, this would be the most anticipated summit clash in world football history: "Both Portugal and Argentina have passed the group stage convincingly and have long-term plans for their ambition to claim the throne. However, when placed on the scales, Portugal's side of the bracket carries significantly higher risks. Right from the round of 32, the challenge named Croatia is already a tough puzzle to solve.

If they overcome this obstacle, the next path for Ronaldo and his teammates will most likely be a fiery Iberian derby against Spain. Only after passing this hurdle can they breathe a little easier, as potential quarterfinal opponents like the USA or Belgium are manageable. Still, the powers in the semifinals such as Germany, France, or the Netherlands are all heavyweight contenders ready to wage brutal battles".

In contrast to the "stormy" journey of his colleague Ronaldo on the other side, according to Coach Kim Chi, Lionel Messi and his team have a relatively easier time: "The defending champions must face surprise package Cape Verde in the round of 32. After overcoming the first test, Argentina's next opponent in the round of 16 will be the winner of the match between Australia and Egypt.

The quarterfinal tests for Argentina against opponents like Colombia, Ghana, or Switzerland remain within their control. It is only in the semifinals that Messi will truly encounter peers of equal caliber, such as England, Japan, or Brazil.

As a fan, I truly long to witness the two legends Ronaldo and Messi face off directly in the final. However, once we reach the knockout stage, every team will play at 200% capacity, studying thoroughly to counter their opponents, so dramatic surprises can occur at any round".

According to the fixture list, the first knockout round matches of the 2026 World Cup will take place from June 29 to July 3. This is regarded as the final dance of the two greatest superstars in modern world football on their journey to conquer the prestigious golden trophy.