First 4 World Cup 2026 Knockout Matches Determined
With Groups A to F complete, World Cup 2026 determines first four Round of 32 matches: Canada - South Africa, Brazil - Japan, Netherlands - Morocco, and USA - Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Earliest match determined is Canada - South Africa in Los Angeles on June 28. Match is special because both teams make first-ever World Cup knockout stage appearance.
Jonathan David (10) with Cyle Larin (top) and Tajon Buchanan celebrate goal making it 2-0 for Canada in win against Qatar in Group B, World Cup 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 18. Photo: AP
Canada finished Group B second with four points, after 1-2 loss to Switzerland in final round. If keeping top spot, hosts would have stayed in Vancouver, but defeat forced move to Los Angeles.
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Meanwhile, South Africa created big surprise, beating South Korea 1-0 in final Group A round to rise to second behind Mexico. African team makes only fourth World Cup appearance, passing group stage for first time. Teams met once before, 2007 friendly, South Africa winning 2-0.
One day later, Brazil will clash with Japan in Houston in match rated most attractive in knockout stage. Brazil topped Group C with seven points (two wins, one draw), closing group stage with 3-0 win over Scotland via Vinicius Junior brace. Japan finished second in Group F with five points after 1-1 draw with Sweden.
Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka (blue) battles Matheus Cunha of Brazil during Japan's 3-2 win over Brazil in Kirin Challenge Cup friendly, at Tokyo Stadium in Japan on October 14, 2025. Photo: AFP
Asian representative impressed with cohesive play under Hajime Moriyasu. Against Sweden, they opened scoring with beautiful combination, finished by Daizen Maeda. Despite Anthony Elanga equalizer, Japan kept second place to advance.
Match expected to have much higher quality than typical Round of 32 fixture. Brazil has many stars but lacks full stability after three group matches, while Japan is rated most cohesive team in tournament. Asian representative benefits from playing in Texas, where they played two group matches and received massive fan support.
Japan met Brazil 10 times, losing 7, drawing two, winning only once. Only victory for Japan came in most recent match, friendly in Tokyo on October 14, 2025.
Schedule - Results World Cup 2026
Monday, June 29, 2026
Round of 32
[South Africa
15 : 00
Canada
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1561329/nam-phi-canada)
[Prediction](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1561329/nam-phi-canada)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Round of 32
[Brazil
13 : 00
Japan
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562344/brazil-nhat-ban)
[Prediction](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562344/brazil-nhat-ban)
Round of 32
[Germany
16 : 30
3rd A/B/C/D/F
](javascript:;)
Round of 32
[Netherlands
21 : 00
Morocco
](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/tran-dau/1562345/ha-lan-morocco)
[Prediction](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
2nd I
](javascript:;)
Round of 32
[1st I
17 : 00
3rd C/D/F/G/H
](javascript:;)
Round of 32
[Mexico
21 : 00
3rd C/E/F/H/I
](javascript:;)
Round of 32
[1st L
12 : 00
3rd E/H/I/J/K
](javascript:;)
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Round of 32
[1st G
16 : 00
3rd A/E/H/I/J
](javascript:;)
Friday, July 3, 2026
Round of 32
[1st H
15 : 00
2nd J
](javascript:;)
Round of 32
[2nd K
19 : 00
2nd L
](javascript:;)
Round of 32
[Switzerland
23 : 00
3rd E/F/G/I/J
](javascript:;)
Also June 29, Netherlands face Morocco in Monterrey. Both got 7 points in group stage, match expected exciting.
Netherlands top Group F after 3-1 win over Tunisia in final round. Oranje start match with Ellyes Skhiri own goal in third minute, before Brian Brobbey, Jan Paul van Hecke score two more. Center-back Van Hecke say team goal top group for knockout advantage.
Brian Brobbey (19) celebrate second goal with Virgil van Dijk (4) and teammates in Netherlands vs Tunisia, Group F World Cup 2026, Kansas City, Missouri, June 25. Photo: AP
Morocco also get 7 points in Group C, place behind Brazil on goal difference. Monterrey clash highly anticipated in Round of 32, both teams strong enough to go deep. Last tournament, Netherlands reach quarterfinals, Morocco reach semifinals. First meeting since 2017 friendly.
Other matchup set: US face Bosnia & Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area stadium, July 1. Co-host top Group D with wins over Paraguay, Australia. Despite 2-3 loss to Turkey in final match, Mauricio Pochettino team still top group.
Bosnia & Herzegovina finish third in Group B with 4 points, still advance as one of 8 best third-place teams. Bosnia & Herzegovina journey show experience, youth. Forward Edin Dzeko, 40, lead attack alongside young talents Kerim Alajbegovic, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ermin Mahmic.
Ermin Mahmic (right) celebrate goal for 3-1 lead with Bosnia & Herzegovina teammates in win over Qatar, final round Group B World Cup 2026, Seattle stadium, June 24. Photo: AP
Bosnia & Herzegovina win two penalty shootouts against Wales, Italy in European playoffs to qualify for World Cup. US must be careful if unable to settle match in 120 minutes.
After first 6 groups close, 19 teams secure Round of 32 spots. 7 confirmed group winners: Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, US, Germany, Netherlands, Argentina. 6 runners-up: South Africa, Canada, Morocco, Australia, Ivory Coast, Japan.
Three spots for best third-place teams go to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ecuador, Sweden. Three other teams—France, Norway, Colombia—secure advancement before final round, but positions (first or second) undecided. Remaining 13 spots decided in groups G, H, I, J, K, L.
World Cup 2026 Standings
Third-place teams MP GD Pts [1
Mexico](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/mexico-16)
3
6
**9**[2
South Africa](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/nam-phi-1531)
3
-1
**4**[3
South Korea](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/han-quoc-17)
3
-1
**3**[4
Czech Republic](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ch-czech-770)
3
-4
**1**[1
Switzerland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-si-15) 3 4 7[2
Canada](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/canada-5529)
3
5
**4**[3
Bosnia & Herz.](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bosnia-herz-1113)
3
-1
**4**[4
Qatar](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/qatar-1569)
3
-8
**1**[1
Brazil](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/brazil-6)
3
6
**7**[2
Morocco](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/morocco-31)
3
3
**7**[3
Scotland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/scotland-1108)
3
-3
**3**[4
Haiti](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/haiti-2386)
3
-6
**0**[1
USA](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/my-2384)
3
4
**6**[2
Australia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/australia-20)
3
0
**4**[3
Paraguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/paraguay-2380)
3
-2
**4**[4
Turkey](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tho-nhi-ky-777)
3
-2
**3**[1
Germany](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/duc-25)
3
6
**6**[2
Ivory Coast](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bo-bien-nga-1501)
3
2
**6**[3
Ecuador](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ecuador-2382)
3
0
**4**[4
Curaçao](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/curacao-5530)
3
-8
**1**[1
Netherlands](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ha-lan-1118)
3
6
**7**[2
Japan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/nhat-ban-12)
3
4
**5**[3
Sweden](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-dien-5)
3
0
**4**[4
Tunisia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tunisia-28)
3
-10
**0**[1
Egypt](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ai-cap-32)
2
2
**4**[2
Iran](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/iran-22)
2
0
**2**[3
Belgium](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bi-1)
2
0
**2**[4
New Zealand](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/new-zealand-4673)
2
-2
**1**[1
Spain](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/tay-ban-nha-9)
2
4
**4**[2
Uruguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/uruguay-7)
2
0
**2**[3
Cape Verde](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/cape-verde-1533)
2
0
**2**[4
Saudi Arabia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/saudi-arabia-23)
2
-4
**1**[1
France](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/phap-2) 2 5 6[2
Norway](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/na-uy-1090)
2
4
**6**[3
Senegal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/senegal-13)
2
-3
**0**[4
Iraq](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/iraq-1567)
2
-6
**0**[1
Argentina](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/argentina-26)
2
5
**6**[2
Austria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ao-775)
2
0
**3**[3
Algeria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/algeria-1532)
2
-2
**3**[4
Jordan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/jordan-1548)
2
-3
**0**[1
Colombia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/colombia-8)
2
3
**6**[2
Portugal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bo-dao-nha-27)
2
5
**4**[3
DR Congo](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/chdc-congo-1508)
2
-1
**1**[4
Uzbekistan](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/uzbekistan-1568)
2
-7
**0**[1
England](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/anh-10)
2
2
**4**[2
Ghana](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ghana-1504)
2
1
**4**[3
Croatia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/croatia-3)
2
-1
**3**[4
Panama](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/panama-11)
2
-2
**0**[1
Sweden](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/thuy-dien-5)
3
0
**4**[2
Ecuador](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/ecuador-2382)
3
0
**4**[3
Bosnia & Herz.](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bosnia-herz-1113)
3
-1
**4**[4
Paraguay](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/paraguay-2380)
3
-2
**4**[5
Croatia](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/croatia-3)
2
-1
**3**[6
South Korea](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/han-quoc-17)
3
-1
**3**[7
Algeria](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/algeria-1532)
2
-2
**3**[8
Scotland](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/scotland-1108)
3
-3
**3**[9
Cape Verde](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/cape-verde-1533)
2
0
**2**[10
Belgium](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/bi-1)
2
0
**2**[11
DR Congo](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/chdc-congo-1508)
2
-1
**1**[12
Senegal](https://vnexpress.net/the-thao/world-cup-2026/doi-tuyen/senegal-13)
2
-3
**0**
8 eliminated teams: Czech Republic, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama. 13 remaining spots contested by 21 teams.
After Groups A, B, C ended, South Korea stood third with 88% chance to advance per Opta prediction. After Groups D, E, F played, probability dropped to 54%.
Champion Best player Top scorer
Remaining prediction time: 19 days
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Australia enter World Cup knockout stage
Australia and Paraguay drew 0-0 in final Group D match, finishing second and third. 52
Coach Nagelsmann denies Germany went easy on Ecuador
Per coach Julian Nagelsmann, German players wanted win despite guaranteed advancement, but played poorly, losing 1-2 to Ecuador in final Group E match. 54
Netherlands face Morocco in World Cup 2026 knockout stage
Beating Tunisia 3-1, Netherlands won Group F with 7 points, will face Morocco in World Cup 2026 round of 32. 44
Japan face Brazil in World Cup round of 32
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