The last 16 of the World Cup is set and some of the game’s biggest sides are still fighting for the title.All three co-hosts are still present too, with the U.S. facing Belgium, Canada taking on Morocco and Mexico hosting England at the Azteca.The champions of 2022, Argentina, are also there after surviving a huge scare by Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to make the knockout rounds.So which are the best ties left in the bracket? Where will the shocks come? Who will be leading the golden boot standings come the quarter-finals? And can anyone stop France?We asked our writers to make their predictions on what happens next and this is what they said.The best round of 16 tie is…Stuart James: There are some cracking ties, including Mexico against England and Brazil against Norway, but it’s surely got to be Spain against Portugal, which has the makings of an absolute classic.Oliver Kay: Portugal vs Spain. Mexico vs England should be compelling on so many levels, but the Iberian derby could be a classic. Possibly not as thrilling, but high-quality.Phil Hay: Brazil versus Norway, because Brazil look beatable in patches and the world’s favourite Viking is loving the World Cup. I feel like Norway and Erling Haaland have further to go.Laura Williamson: Mexico vs England… whenever the kick-off time is!Tim Spiers: For the occasion, drama and tension it’s Mexico versus England. Altitude is going to be a leveller, just a shame there are no West Bromwich Albion players in the England squad. The most entertaining match could actually be USA against Belgium, two evenly-matched teams who score plenty (19 in eight matches combined so far).Dermot Corrigan: Portugal and Spain will be great but the Iberian neighbours have met so many times over the years. There is something uniquely exciting about Mexico against England at the Azteca, it feels like a game which is going to be remembered for decades to come.Ronaldo celebrates scoring his first World Cup knockout goal (Photo: Cole Burston / AFP via Getty Images)Carl Anka: USA v Belgium might not jump off the page for the neutral, but it could end up being the game with the biggest impact in the next five to ten years. Victory on home soil, over a Top 10-ranked European side is the sort of legacy game the USMNT needs to help turn the sport into a true cultural phenomenon in the country.Simon Hughes: Mexico versus England in the Azteca.Lukas Weese: Portugal versus Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo in his last World Cup, continuing the pursuit of the elusive trophy. Lamine Yamal trying to win his first World Cup. A tantalizing storyline and matchup.Matt Slater: Mexico versus England is MY tie of the round but that is because I have a dog in the fight but is it the neutral’s tie of the round? I’m not so sure about that. Surely it is either the Iberian Clasico/Ronaldo’s last stand or Brazil versus the Vikings? As I am a neutral for those two games, I am going for the latter.Nick Miller: It’s Mexico vs England, isn’t it. Spain vs Portugal is slightly more glamorous/has a greater total tonnage of talent, but I don’t think that game is going to be particularly close. The home advantages afforded to Mexico at the very least level out the disparity in ability between the two sets of players, and the Azteca has sounded feral so far. It’s going to be great.Patrick Iversen: Mexico vs. England. England are a contender with mettle to prove, and facing Mexico at Estadio Azteca is a crucible. It will either make or break them. Mexico are in uncharted territory and feeling it. All the makings of a classic.Henry Bushnell: Mexico-England, and nothing else is in the same stratosphere. The history and lore, the passion for football in both countries, the cultural clashes, the location in a host country … there will be some other great games, all of which have been mentioned by colleagues above, but nothing will compare to Sunday night.The game we’re most likely to get an upset in is…James: I’m going for Norway against Brazil, which would be an upset based on their respective World Cup history… but maybe not based on form. Norway enjoyed a formidable qualifying campaign, they’ve won three out of four games at this tournament and they have a phenomenal goalscorer. All the ingredients are there in that respect.Kay: I would put USA vs Belgium in the same category as Mexico vs England. Technically speaking, a North American would count as an upset — in terms of FIFA rankings, recent history and pre-tournament odds. But with belief and momentum growing, would anyone really be surprised by a “home” win or two?Hay: Would the USMNT beating Belgium class as a full-one upset? Because I think they will, even minus Folarin Balogun.Williamson: Paraguay couldn’t do it again, could they? It feels very unlikely, but I can see Norway getting past Brazil.Spiers: Brazil have shown enough vulnerability to suggest that Norway, who have nothing to lose, can beat them.Corrigan: I’d agree with Tim on this one — it seems weird to say it but Norway actually have actually shown a lot more attacking power in this tournament so far than Brazil, who have been mostly surviving on vibes so far.Can Haaland’s Vikings defeat Brazil? (Photo: Julian Finney – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Anka: Mexico v England. The hosts played brilliant football against Ecuador to reach the Round of 16 and have only lost twice at the Azteca since the stadium was opened in 1966 (one of which came against Sheffield Wednesday). England have looked physically exhausted and mentally congested in each of their four matches to date. If this game was being played on US soil, Tuchel could rest easier. The potential for defeat at the Azteca is just that much higher.