The wait is over. After 72 group-stage matches across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been cut from 48 teams down to 32, and football's first-ever Round of 32 is fully set. Every matchup, date, kickoff time, and venue is now confirmed.
This is genuinely new territory for the World Cup. Every tournament from 1986 through 2022 began its knockout phase at the Round of 16. The expanded 48-team format adds this extra knockout round before it, meaning the eventual champion will need to win 8 matches instead of 7, the most ever required to lift the trophy.
How the Round of 32 Works
32 teams advance from the group stage: the top two finishers from each of the 12 groups (24 teams), plus the 8 best third-placed teams across the whole tournament. From here, it's single elimination, win or go home. Matches level after 90 minutes go to 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout if still level. The bracket is fixed with no redraws, so every team already knows its full route to the final.
The Complete Round of 32 Bracket
| Date | Match | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jun 28 | South Africa vs Canada | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Mon, Jun 29 | Brazil vs Japan | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Mon, Jun 29 | Germany vs Paraguay | 4:30 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Mon, Jun 29 | Netherlands vs Morocco | 9:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Tue, Jun 30 | Ivory Coast vs Norway | 1:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Tue, Jun 30 | France vs Sweden | 5:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Tue, Jun 30 | Mexico vs Ecuador | 9:00 PM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Wed, Jul 1 | England vs DR Congo | 12:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Wed, Jul 1 | Belgium vs Senegal | TBD | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Wed, Jul 1 | USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8:00 PM | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Thu, Jul 2 | Spain vs Austria | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Thu, Jul 2 | Portugal vs Croatia | 7:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Thu, Jul 2 | Switzerland vs Algeria | 11:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Fri, Jul 3 | Australia vs Egypt | 2:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Fri, Jul 3 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | 6:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Fri, Jul 3 | Colombia vs Ghana | 9:30 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
See the full ticket guide and our how to watch guide for streaming every match.
How Each Team Qualified: Group by Group
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Mexico finished top with a perfect 9 points from 3 wins, conceding none. South Africa took second on 4 points. South Korea and Czechia were eliminated.
Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Switzerland topped the group on 7 points. Canada finished second on 4 points, while Bosnia and Herzegovina snuck through as one of the best third-placed teams, also on 4 points. Qatar was eliminated.
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Brazil and Morocco both finished on 7 points, with Brazil winning the head-to-head tiebreak after their 1-1 draw. Scotland finished third but missed out on a third-place spot; Haiti, in their first World Cup in 52 years, were eliminated without a point.
Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay
The USA won the group on 6 points despite a late loss to Türkiye on the final matchday. Australia took second via a draw with Paraguay, who advanced anyway as one of the best third-placed teams. Türkiye was eliminated.
Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Germany and the Ivory Coast both finished on 6 points, with Germany winning on goal difference. Ecuador's shock 2-1 win over Germany on the final day wasn't enough to leapfrog into the automatic spots, but they advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Curaçao was eliminated.
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
The Netherlands topped the group on 7 points. Japan edged Sweden to second place after a 1-1 draw on the final matchday, but Sweden advanced anyway as one of the best third-placed teams. Tunisia finished bottom without a point.
Group G: Belgium, Egypt
Belgium won the group on goal difference after a 5-1 win over New Zealand, finishing level on 5 points with Egypt, who took second after a 1-1 draw with Iran. Iran finished third but missed out on a third-place berth; New Zealand was eliminated.
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde
Spain won the group on 7 points with a 1-0 win over Uruguay. Cape Verde — first-time World Cup qualifiers — advanced in second place without winning a single match, drawing all three. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were both eliminated on 2 points.
Group I: France, Norway, Senegal
France won all three matches for a maximum of 9 points, beating Norway 4-1 on the final day. Norway finished second on 6 points, and Senegal advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Iraq, back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, was eliminated.
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria
Argentina won all three matches for 9 points. Austria and Algeria finished level on 4 points after drawing their head-to-head meeting, with both advancing Austria as runner-up, Algeria as one of the best third-placed teams. Jordan, playing in their first-ever World Cup finals, was eliminated.
Group K: Colombia, Portugal, DR Congo
Colombia won the group on 7 points after a scoreless draw with Portugal on the final day. Portugal took second on 5 points, and DR Congo advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Uzbekistan was eliminated without a point.
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana
England won the group on 7 points. Croatia finished second on 6 points, and Ghana advanced as one of the best third-placed teams on 4 points. Panama was eliminated without a point.
The Road to the Final
The bracket is locked from here through July 19. The final takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, preceded by a third-place match in Miami on July 18. Quarter-finals run July 9–11, with semi-finals on July 14 and 15.
Argentina, France, and co-hosts Mexico were the only three teams to win all three group games. Germany, Brazil, and Spain also head into the knockout rounds among the tournament favourites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Round of 32 the same as the Round of 16?
No. They are two separate knockout rounds. The Round of 32 is brand new for 2026 and runs June 28 to July 3 with 16 matches. The Round of 16 follows immediately after, from July 4 to 7.
How many third-placed teams advanced?
8 of the 12 third-placed teams advanced: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Sweden, Senegal, Algeria, DR Congo, and Ghana. Iran, Scotland, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia were the third-placed teams that missed out.
Which teams won all three group games?
Argentina, France and, Mexico were the only three teams to finish the group stage with a perfect record of three wins from three.
Where is the 2026 World Cup final?
The final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
