All 16 World Cup 2026 knockout matchups set

Portugal - Croatia, Spain - Austria final matchups set for Round of 32. 32 teams advance from World Cup 2026 group stage.

World Cup 2026 Round of 32 matchups: South Africa - Canada, Brazil - Japan, Germany - Paraguay, Netherlands - Morocco, Ivory Coast - Norway, France - Sweden, Mexico - Ecuador, England - DR Congo, Belgium - Senegal, USA - Bosnia & Herzegovina, Spain - Austria, Portugal - Croatia, Switzerland - Algeria, Australia - Egypt, Argentina - Cape Verde, Colombia - Ghana.

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Renato Veiga after Portugal draw Colombia in World Cup 2026 Group K at Miami Gardens, Florida, USA on June 27. Photo: AP

Knockout stage features teams from five confederations, excluding Oceania. UEFA has most teams with 13: Germany, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, Spain, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Norway, England, Switzerland. Africa has nine: South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Algeria, DR Congo, Ghana, Egypt, Cape Verde. South America has five: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay. CONCACAF has three: Mexico, USA, Canada. AFC has two: Japan, Australia.

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First knockout match starts 2:00 AM June 29 (Hanoi time). South Africa plays Canada in Los Angeles. African side reached knockout stage first time after beating South Korea 1-0 in final Group A match. Canada finished second in Group B with two wins, one loss. First knockout stage appearance for both teams.

Lautaro Martinez (number 22) celebrates second goal with Lo Celso (number 11) during Argentina vs Jordan in World Cup Group J, Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, June 27, 2026. Photo: AP

Giants Argentina, France, Brazil, Spain, Germany, England, Portugal advance. Cape Verde continues fairytale, becoming smallest nation by population to reach World Cup knockout stage. Uruguay and South Korea elimination biggest group stage surprises.

Defending champions Argentina play Cape Verde 5:00 AM Saturday July 4. Debutants Cape Verde undefeated in Group H. African side drew Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia to finish second, reaching knockout stage on debut. Reward for historic run: match against defending champions in Miami.

Messi scores free kick against Jordan

France showed strength, winning all Group I matches. Kylian Mbappe scored four goals, made two assists in three matches. Ousmane Dembele also scored four. Didier Deschamps' team plays Sweden (third in Group F) 4:00 AM Wednesday July 1.

Brazil topped Group C after 3-0 win over Scotland. Five-time world champions face Japan (second in Group F behind Netherlands) 12:00 AM Tuesday June 30. Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in Tokyo friendly October 2025.

Anthony Ralston (24) of Scotland battles Vinicius Junior (7) of Brazil in World Cup 2026 Group C match at Miami Gardens, Florida, June 24. Photo: AP

European champions Spain topped Group H unconvincingly. Drew Cape Verde, then beat Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to advance. Lamine Yamal and teammates face Austria, who qualified after dramatic final Group E match. Spain vs Austria starts 2:00 AM Friday July 3.

Germany play Paraguay in Boston 3:30 AM Tuesday June 30. Julian Nagelsmann's team topped Group E after winning first two matches, despite struggling. Paraguay impressed, advancing with defensive play. After losing 4-1 to USA in opener, they kept clean sheets against Turkey and Australia.

Frenkie de Jong (left) battles Alexander Isak in Netherlands vs Sweden draw, World Cup 2026 Group F matchday two, Houston, June 20. Photo: AP

Netherlands meet Morocco in anticipated match at 8:00 Tuesday, June 30. Netherlands top Group F after wins against Sweden and Tunisia. Morocco second to Brazil in Group C on goal difference. Match notable as many Moroccan players like Sofyan Amrabat, Anass Salah-Eddine, and Noussair Mazraoui born in Netherlands.

Portugal face Croatia in clash of experienced generations at 6:00 Friday, July 3. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric first faced each other in 2008 playing for Man Utd and Tottenham. Nearly two decades later, both remain national team leaders despite being in their 40s.

Harry Kane (9) and Jude Bellingham (10) in England's 0-0 draw with Ghana in second round of Group L, World Cup 2026 at Boston stadium, US, June 23, 2026. Photo: AP

England play DR Congo at 23:00 Wednesday, July 1, after topping Group L. Thomas Tuchel's side beat Croatia and Panama, drew with Ghana to advance. DR Congo reach knockout stage as one of eight best third-placed teams.

Belgium play Senegal in Seattle at 3:00 Thursday, July 2. Match features two teams finding form in final group stage round. Belgium started slowly with draws against Egypt and Iran, but beat New Zealand 5-1 in final match. Senegal also impressed with 5-0 win over Iraq.

Three co-hosts all reach knockout stage. Mexico first to qualify after wins over South Africa and South Korea. They then beat Czech Republic 3-0 to top Group A with nine points. They face Ecuador at Azteca stadium at 8:00 Wednesday, July 1. Mexico yet to concede in tournament, while Ecuador build play on solid defense.

Mexican players celebrate opening goal by Luis Romo in 50th minute of South Korea vs Mexico match in second round of Group A, World Cup 2026, at Guadalajara stadium, Mexico, June 18, 2026. Photo: AP

USA top Group D after wins over Paraguay and Australia. Despite losing to Turkey in final round, Mauricio Pochettino's team kept top spot. USA opponent is Bosnia & Herzegovina, who advanced as one of eight best third-placed teams, at 7:00 Thursday, July 2.

In remaining fixtures, Ivory Coast face Norway at 0:00 Wednesday, July 1, in clash of teams making mark in group stage. Norway return to World Cup after 28 years, advancing thanks to Erling Haaland's form. Ivory Coast pass group stage for first time in three tournament appearances.

Switzerland face Algeria at 10:00 Friday, July 3. Switzerland got seven points in Group B, maintaining consistency in recent World Cups. Algeria qualified after dramatic draw with Austria in final round, with Sasa Kalajdzic scoring in final minute of stoppage time.

Sasa Kalajdzic (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring Austria's third goal in draw with Algeria in Group J, World Cup 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri, US, June 27. Photo: AP

Australia meet Egypt in Dallas at 1:00 Saturday, July 4. Australia finished second in Group D after beating Turkey and drawing with Paraguay. Egypt secured second in Group G after drawing with Iran in final round.

Colombia vs Ghana is final match, at 8:30 Saturday, July 4.

Round of 16 starts next day. Potential notable matches in round of 16 include Germany - France or Portugal - Spain. These four teams share same bracket to final, alongside other strong opponents like Netherlands, USA.

Other bracket to final features former champions Brazil, England, and Argentina.

Japan ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562344/brazil-nhat-ban)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562344/brazil-nhat-ban)

Round of 32 [Germany

								16 : 30

Paraguay ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565176/duc-paraguay)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565176/duc-paraguay)

Round of 32 [Netherlands

								21 : 00

Morocco ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562345/ha-lan-morocco)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562345/ha-lan-morocco)

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Round of 32 [Ivory Coast

								13 : 00

Norway ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1564789/bo-bien-nga-na-uy)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1564789/bo-bien-nga-na-uy)

Round of 32 [France

								17 : 00

Sweden ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565177/phap-thuy-dien)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565177/phap-thuy-dien)

Round of 32 [Mexico

								21 : 00

Ecuador ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567306/mexico-ecuador)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567306/mexico-ecuador)

Round of 32 [England

								12 : 00

DR Congo ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567307/anh-chdc-congo)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567307/anh-chdc-congo)

Thursday, July 2, 2026 Round of 32 [Belgium

								16 : 00

Senegal ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567308/bi-senegal)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567308/bi-senegal)

Round of 32 [USA

								20 : 00

Bosnia & Herz. ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562586/my-bosnia-&-herz.)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562586/my-bosnia-&-herz.)

Friday, July 3, 2026 Round of 32 [Spain

								15 : 00

Austria ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567311/tay-ban-nha-ao)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567311/tay-ban-nha-ao)

Round of 32 [Portugal

								19 : 00

Croatia ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567309/bo-dao-nha-croatia)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567309/bo-dao-nha-croatia)

Round of 32 [Switzerland

								23 : 00

Algeria ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567312/thuy-si-algeria)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567312/thuy-si-algeria)

Saturday, July 4, 2026 Round of 32 [Australia

								14 : 00

Egypt ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565178/australia-ai-cap)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565178/australia-ai-cap)

Round of 32 [Argentina

								18 : 00

Cape Verde ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565179/argentina-cape-verde)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1565179/argentina-cape-verde)

Round of 32 [Colombia

								21 : 30

Ghana ](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567310/colombia-ghana)

									[Predict](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1567310/colombia-ghana)

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