Key Points
- Round of 32 officially underway.
- Canada became the first team to reach the Round of 16.
- Sixteen knockout matches will determine the last 16.
- Every match is now single elimination.
- Final scheduled for July 19.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the knockout phase after the completion of the expanded group stage, setting up 16 Round of 32 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the tournament features a 32-team knockout bracket following the expanded 48-team competition, meaning every remaining match is now win or go home.
Canada became the first nation to secure a place in the Round of 16 after defeating South Africa 1-0, while the remaining knockout fixtures will determine who continues the chase for football's biggest prize.
Traditional contenders including Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany remain among the favorites, while surprise qualifiers such as Cape Verde, Bosnia and Herzegovina, DR Congo and Jordan have added fresh storylines to the tournament.
Some of the standout Round of 32 fixtures include Brazil vs Japan, Germany vs Paraguay, France vs Sweden, Spain vs Austria, Portugal vs Croatia and Argentina vs Cape Verde.
The winners will advance to the Round of 16 before the competition continues through the quarterfinals, semifinals and the World Cup final on July 19.
With global stars including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior still competing, the knockout stage is expected to produce some of the tournament's biggest moments.
