​The World Cup kicks off its knockout stage with the first of 16 matches on Sunday, June 28, as the round of 32 runs through July 3, with the winners moving on to the last 16. This edition, featuring 48 teams, is the largest World Cup to date. The knockout phase expanded from 16 to 32 teams, allowing the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams to advance to the win-or-go-home round. Remaining matchups include anticipated clashes such as Netherlands vs. Morocco and Portugal vs. Croatia. All three co-hosts progressed to the knockout stage, with the United States drawing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico facing Ecuador, and Canada taking on South Africa in the round of 32.
USA TODAY Sports’ soccer writers and editors shared their predictions for the first round of knockout games: South Africa vs. Canada — Canada (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Brazil vs. Japan — Brazil (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Germany vs. Paraguay — Germany (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Netherlands vs. Morocco — Netherlands (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Ivory Coast vs. Norway — Norway (Vertelney, Yomtov), Ivory Coast (Arnold, Hernandez); Mexico vs. Ecuador — Mexico (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Belgium vs. Senegal — Belgium (Arnold, Yomtov, Hernandez), Senegal (Vertelney); USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — United States (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Spain vs. Austria — Spain (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Portugal vs. Croatia — Portugal (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov), Croatia (Hernandez); Switzerland vs. Algeria — Switzerland (Arnold, Yomtov, Hernandez), Algeria (Vertelney); Australia vs. Egypt — Australia (Arnold, Yomtov), Egypt (Vertelney, Hernandez); Argentina vs. Cape Verde — Argentina (Arnold, Vertelney, Yomtov, Hernandez); Colombia vs. Ghana — Colombia (Arnold, Vertelney), Ghana (Yomtov, Hernandez).
This summary reflects predictions from USA TODAY Sports’ soccer writers and editors for the World Cup round of 32.