The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially set, with football fans around the world preparing for an exciting Round of 32 featuring some of the biggest names in the game alongside a number of surprise qualifiers. Following an intense group stage, 32 nations have earned the right to continue their quest for football’s biggest prize in the first-ever expanded World Cup knockout round.
The Round of 32 begins on Sunday, June 28, and runs through Friday, July 3, with matches taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The fixtures promise thrilling encounters, including South Africa versus Canada, Brazil against Japan, Germany taking on Paraguay, Netherlands facing Morocco, France meeting Sweden, England battling DR Congo, Portugal clashing with Croatia, and Argentina locking horns with Cape Verde. Other standout ties include Spain versus Austria, Belgium against Senegal, Mexico versus Ecuador, and Switzerland facing Algeria.
This year’s tournament has already delivered several surprises. African nations have enjoyed a historic campaign, with multiple teams progressing to the knockout stage and proving they can compete with football’s traditional powerhouses. Underdogs such as Cape Verde and Morocco have impressed with fearless performances, while favourites including Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and England remain firmly in contention for the title.
The expanded 48-team format has introduced the Round of 32 for the first time in FIFA World Cup history, increasing the number of knockout matches and giving more nations the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage. Every match from this point onward is a winner-takes-all contest, with teams battling for places in the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final on July 19.
With legendary stars hoping to crown their international careers with World Cup glory and emerging talents eager to announce themselves on the global stage, fans can expect drama, unforgettable goals, and emotional moments throughout the knockout phase. As the road to the championship narrows, every mistake could prove costly, making the Round of 32 one of the most exciting stages of the tournament.
Here are the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 fixtures in a simple Team vs Team format:
🇿🇦 South Africa vs Canada 🇨🇦
🇧🇷 Brazil vs Japan 🇯🇵
🇩🇪 Germany vs Paraguay 🇵🇾
🇳🇱 Netherlands vs Morocco 🇲🇦
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast vs Norway 🇳🇴
🇫🇷 France vs Sweden 🇸🇪
🇲🇽 Mexico vs Ecuador 🇪🇨
🏴 England vs DR Congo 🇨🇩
🇧🇪 Belgium vs Senegal 🇸🇳
🇺🇸 United States vs Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦
🇪🇸 Spain vs Austria 🇦🇹
🇵🇹 Portugal vs Croatia 🇭🇷
🇨🇭 Switzerland vs Algeria 🇩🇿
🇦🇺 Australia vs Egypt 🇪🇬
🇦🇷 Argentina vs Cape Verde 🇨🇻
🇨🇴 Colombia vs Ghana 🇬🇭
