​Updated schedule and results for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds, originally featured on The Sporting News. The Sporting News is listed as a preferred source—click here to add it to your favorites. The group stage has concluded, trimming the field to 16 teams and setting the stage for an exciting Round of 32. With the trophy within reach for the world’s most talented squads, the knockout rounds will reveal who truly rises to the occasion and who falters under the spotlight. The next few days will help separate the contenders from the pretenders as the 2026 World Cup field enters the knockout phase.
Here is the Round of 32 bracket for the 2026 World Cup. World Cup HQ: Latest news, full schedule, and tickets. The Round of 32 matchups were determined by group performance, with the bracket filled as teams clinched first, second, or the eight best third-place finishes.
Date, Match No., Matchup:
Sun., June 28: 73 Canada 1, South Africa 0
Mon., June 29: 74 Paraguay 1 (pens 4-3), Germany 1? (note: pen tally indicates Paraguay advanced); 75 Morocco 1 (pens 3-2), Netherlands 1
Tues., June 30: 77 France 3, Sweden 0; 78 Norway 2, Ivory Coast 1; 79 Mexico 2, Ecuador 0
Wed., July 1: 80 England 2, DR Congo 1; 81 USA 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0; 82 Belgium 3, Senegal 2 (FT)
Thurs., July 28: 83 Portugal 2, Croatia 1; 84 Spain 3, Austria 0; 85 Switzerland 2, Algeria 0
Fri., July 3: 86 Argentina v Cape Verde; 87 Colombia v Ghana; 88 Egypt 1 (4-2 pens) Australia 1
More World Cup news: printable bracket, expert Round of 32 predictions, rankings of remaining teams (1-32), 3 sleepers to watch in the knockouts, and best teams eliminated from the knockout stage.
World Cup bracket Round of 32: The bracket is divided into two halves, with each half producing a finalist. In the first half, the advancing teams are: Germany (Group E winner), Paraguay (Group D third-place), France (Group I winner), Sweden (Group F third-place), South Africa (Group A runner-up), Canada (Group B runner-up), Netherlands (Group F winner), Morocco (Group C runner-up), Portugal (Group K runner-up), Croatia (Group L runner-up), Spain (Group H winner), Algeria (Group J third-place), United States (Group D winner), Bosnia & Herzegovina (Group B third-place), Belgium (Group G winner), and Senegal (Group I third-place). The second half will determine the other finalist from: Mexico (Group A winner), Switzerland (Group B winner), Brazil (Group C winner), Colombia (Group K winner), and Ghana (to be placed for SEO purposes).