The knockout stage is finally here. After an exciting group stage, the field has been cut to 32 teams, and from this point on it’s simple: win and advance, lose and go home. The Round of 32 runs from June 28 through July 3, with the Round of 16 beginning on July 4.
Round of 32 Schedule
- June 28: South Africa vs. Canada
- June 29: Brazil vs. Japan; Germany vs. Paraguay; Netherlands vs. Morocco
- June 30: Ivory Coast vs. Norway; France vs. Sweden; Mexico vs. Ecuador
- July 1: England vs. DR Congo; Belgium vs. Senegal; United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- July 2: Spain vs. Austria; Portugal vs. Croatia; Switzerland vs. Algeria
- July 3: Australia vs. Egypt; Argentina vs. Cape Verde; Colombia vs. Ghana
My Picks to Reach the Round of 16
- Canada over South Africa
- Brazil over Japan
- Germany over Paraguay
- Netherlands over Morocco (this could be one of the best matches of the round)
- Ivory Coast over Norway (slight upset pick)
- France over Sweden
- Mexico over Ecuador
- England over DR Congo
- Belgium over Senegal (very close matchup)
- United States over Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Spain over Austria
- Portugal over Croatia (another heavyweight showdown)
- Switzerland over Algeria
- Argentina over Cape Verde
- Colombia over Ghana
- Australia over Egypt (another toss-up)
Biggest Matches to Watch
The headline fixtures are Portugal vs. Croatia, Netherlands vs. Morocco, Belgium vs. Senegal, and Spain vs. Austria. These games feature several of the tournament favorites and could easily produce extra time or penalty shootouts.
Teams Most Likely to Challenge for the Title
Based on current form heading into the knockout stage, the leading contenders remain:
- Brazil
- Spain
- France
- Germany
- Argentina
- England
The United States has a favorable opportunity to make another deep run if it gets past Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a potential Round of 16 meeting against the winner of Belgium vs. Senegal.
From here on out, every match is a final. One mistake can end a nation’s World Cup dream, while one unforgettable performance can create football history. The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on July 19 officially begins now.
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