The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup enters its decisive phase as nations secure places in the first-ever Round of 32 and the road to the final at MetLife Stadium begins to take shape.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout bracket is beginning to take shape as the expanded 48-team tournament approaches the conclusion of its group stage, with several nations securing qualification while others have already been eliminated from contention.
Under FIFA’s new format, the top two teams from each of the tournament’s 12 groups automatically advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams. The revamped structure means 32 nations will reach the knockout stage, while 16 teams will see their World Cup campaigns end after the group phase.
Among the teams that have already secured progression to the knockout rounds are Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Morocco, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa, England, Portugal, Colombia, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Ghana. Several other nations remain in strong positions heading into the final round of group-stage fixtures.
Teams that have been eliminated from the tournament include Qatar, Haiti, South Korea, Curacao, Jordan, Iraq, Panama, DR Congo, and several others who failed to collect enough points to remain in contention for either an automatic qualification spot or a best third-place berth.
The first Round of 32 match is scheduled for June 28, 2026, when South Africa will face Canada in Los Angeles. Other confirmed or partially determined knockout fixtures include Brazil facing the runner-up from Group F, Germany meeting one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, Morocco taking on the Group F winner, and Mexico facing a third-place qualifier.
The United States, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Uruguay, Japan, Tunisia, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and several other nations remain locked in qualification battles as the final group-stage matches are played across North America.
The Round of 32 will be played from June 28 through July 3, followed by the Round of 16 from July 4-7. Quarterfinals are scheduled for July 9-11, semifinals on July 14 and 15, the third-place match on July 18 in Miami, and the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
With the knockout stage now in sight, the focus is shifting from qualification calculations to championship ambitions as teams prepare for the first elimination matches in World Cup history under the tournament’s expanded format.
Qualified Teams
- Mexico
- South Africa
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Brazil
- Morocco
- United States
- Australia
- Germany
- Ivory Coast
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- France
- Norway
- Argentina
- Austria
- Portugal
- Colombia
- England
- Ghana
Eliminated Teams
- South Korea
- Czechia
- Qatar
- Haiti
- Curacao
- Tunisia
- Iraq
- Jordan
- DR Congo
- Panama
Upcoming Round of 32 Fixtures
- South Africa vs Canada — June 28, Los Angeles
- Brazil vs Group F Runner-up — June 29, Houston
- Germany vs Best Third-Place Qualifier — June 29, Boston
- Morocco vs Group F Winner — June 29, Monterrey
- Mexico vs Third-Place Qualifier — June 30, Mexico City
- Additional fixtures will be finalized following the completion of the remaining group-stage matches.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Schedule
| Date | Round | Match | Teams | Venue |
| June 28, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 73 | South Africa 🇿🇦 vs Canada 🇨🇦 | Los Angeles |
| June 29, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 76 | Brazil 🇧🇷 vs Runner-up Group F | Houston |
| June 29, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 74 | Germany 🇩🇪 vs Third-Place Team (Groups A/B/C/D/F) | Boston |
| June 29, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 75 | Winner Group F vs Morocco 🇲🇦 | Monterrey |
| June 30, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 78 | Runner-up Group E vs Runner-up Group I | Dallas |
| June 30, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 77 | Winner Group I vs Third-Place Team (Groups C/D/F/G/H) | New York/New Jersey |
| June 30, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 79 | Mexico 🇲🇽 vs Third-Place Team (Groups C/E/F/H/I) | Mexico City |
| July 1, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 80 | Winner Group L vs Third-Place Team (Groups E/H/I/J/K) | Atlanta |
| July 1, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 82 | Winner Group G vs Third-Place Team (Groups A/E/H/I/J) | Seattle |
| July 1, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 81 | United States 🇺🇸 vs Third-Place Team (Groups B/E/F/I/J) | San Francisco |
| July 2, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 84 | Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J | Los Angeles |
| July 2, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 83 | Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L | Toronto |
| July 2, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 85 | Switzerland 🇨🇭 vs Third-Place Team (Groups E/F/G/I/J) | Vancouver |
| July 3, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 88 | Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G | Dallas |
| July 3, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 86 | Argentina 🇦🇷 vs Runner-up Group H | Miami |
| July 3, 2026 | Round of 32 | Match 87 | Winner Group K vs Third-Place Team (Groups D/E/I/J/L) | Kansas City |
Round of 16
| Date | Match | Teams | Venue |
| July 4, 2026 | Match 90 | Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 | Houston |
| July 4, 2026 | Match 89 | Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 | Philadelphia |
| July 5, 2026 | Match 91 | Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 | New York/New Jersey |
| July 5, 2026 | Match 92 | Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 | Mexico City |
| July 6, 2026 | Match 93 | Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 | Dallas |
| July 6, 2026 | Match 94 | Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 | Seattle |
| July 7, 2026 | Match 95 | Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 | Atlanta |
| July 7, 2026 | Match 96 | Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 | Vancouver |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Match | Teams | Venue |
| July 9, 2026 | Match 97 | Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 | Boston |
| July 10, 2026 | Match 98 | Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 | Los Angeles |
| July 11, 2026 | Match 99 | Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 | Miami |
| July 11, 2026 | Match 100 | Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 | Kansas City |
Semifinals
| Date | Match | Teams | Venue |
| July 14, 2026 | Match 101 | Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 | Dallas |
| July 15, 2026 | Match 102 | Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 | Atlanta |
Final Matches
| Date | Match | Teams | Venue |
| July 18, 2026 | Third-Place Playoff (Match 103) | Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 | Miami |
| July 19, 2026 | FIFA World Cup Final (Match 104) | Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 | New York/New Jersey |
