World Cup teams to qualify for Round of 16: Updated 2026 knockout bracket, schedule and fixtures
World Cup teams to qualify for Round of 16: Updated 2026 knockout bracket, schedule and fixtures originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup are underway.
There were some surprise results and wonderful underdog stories during the group phase, but all of the big guns have made it through.
The likes of France, Spain, Brazil, England, Portugal and reigning champions Argentina are now all plotting their path to the final, while the likes of Cape Verde, DR Congo and Bosnia & Herzegovina all have the chance to write at least one more memorable chapter in their national soccer stories.
Here’s a live look at how the Round of 16 is shaping up.
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World Cup bracket 2026
SN
WORLD CUP GROUP STANDINGS:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F
Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L
World Cup teams in Round of 32
All three co-hosts reached the knockout stages and Canada ventured south to kick off the Round of 32 in unforgettable fashion in Los Angeles.
Then there was a tough encounter for the most successful nation in World Cup history
Canada
Jesse Marsch’s side had the better of a tense encounter with South Africa but the deadlock remained intact as stoppage time rolled around. To avert extra time, Stephen Eustaquio seized upon a loose ball at the end of the area and steered on an unerring shot into the bottom left corner of Ronwen Williams’ net. It is a moment that Canadian soccer will never forget.
Brazil
The Selecao were outplayed by Japan during the first half against Japan, who led through Kaishu Sano’s excellent opener. But veteran midfielder headed Brazil level and the Blue Samurai were eventually blunted by waves of pressure. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score a 95th-minute winner.
Paraguay
While many soccer fans counted Paraguay out in their Round of 32 match against Germany, La Albirroja pulled a shocker out of their hat and downed the Europeans 4-3 in a penalty shootout. Paraguay’s goalkeeper, Orlando Gill, saved two penalties before Jonathan Tah skied one over Gill’s crossbar.
Morocco
Coming off the heels of Paraguay’s win in penalties over Germany, Morocco won its own match in a penalty shootout, handing the Netherlands a devastating loss. Issa Diop scored in the final minutes of stoppage time to force extra time for the Atlas Lions, and then it was Ismael Sabari who was the hero for Morocco.
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How does the World Cup bracket work?
The Round of 16 is the second stage of what are commonly known as the knockout rounds because every match is single elimination from here on out.
There are no points earned. There are no standings. There’s simply a winner and a loser.
What happens if knockout matches finish tied?
There has to be a winner on the day for each Round of 16 match and for subsequent knockout-round matches (quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, final). So if teams are tied after 90 minutes of regulation, the match goes into a 30-minute period of extra time.
If the deadlock persists after those 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout will determine the team that moves on to the quarterfinals.
The Round of 16 pairings are established in line with the bracket that was set at the end of the group stage. From the Round of 32 onwards, every team knows their potential path to the final.
MORE:Teams eliminated from World Cup
World Cup 2026 live schedule for knockout stage
Round of 32
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| Sun., June 28 | 73 | Canada 1, South Africa 0 |
| Mon., June 29 | 74 | Paraguay 1 (pens 4-3), Germany 1 |
| 75 | Morocco 1 (pens 3-2), Netherlands 1 | |
| 76 | Brazil 2, Japan 1 | |
| Tues., June 30 | 77 | France v Sweden |
| 78 | Ivory Coast vs. Norway | |
| 79 | Mexico v Ecuador | |
| Wed., July 1 | 80 | England v DR Congo |
| 81 | USA v Bosnia-Herzegovina | |
| 82 | Belgium v Senegal | |
| Thurs., July 2 | 83 | Portugal v Croatia |
| 84 | Spain v Austria | |
| 85 | Switzerland v Algeria | |
| Fri., July 3 | 86 | Argentina v Cape Verde |
| 87 | Colombia v Ghana | |
| 88 | Australia v Egypt |
Round of 16
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| Sat., July 4 | 89 | Brazil vs. Winner match 77 |
| 90 | Canada vs. Winner match 75 | |
| Sun., July 5 | 91 | Paraguay vs. Winner match 78 |
| 92 | Winner match 79 vs. Winner match 80 | |
| Mon., July 6 | 93 | Winner match 83 vs. Winner match 84 |
| 94 | Winner match 81 vs. Winner match 82 | |
| Tue., July 7 | 95 | Winner match 86 vs. Winner match 88 |
| 96 | Winner match 85 vs. Winner match 87 |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| Thurs., July 9 | 97 | Winner match 89 vs. Winner match 90 |
| Fri. July 10 | 98 | Winner match 93 vs. Winner match 94 |
| Sat., July 11 | 99 | Winner match 91 vs. Winner match 92 |
| 100 | Winner match 95 vs. Winner match 96 |
Semifinals
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| Tue., July 12 | 101 | Winner match 97 vs. Winner match 98 |
| Wed. July 13 | 102 | Winner match 99 vs. Winner match 100 |
Third-place
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| Sat., July 18 | 103 | Runner-up match 101 vs. Runner-up match 102 |
Final
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| Sun., July 19 | 104 | Winner match 101 vs. Winner match 102 |
