World Cup last 32 opens with ranked clash and Messi test
Al Jazeera highlights eight Round of 32 matches, including Netherlands-Morocco, France-Sweden and Argentina-Cape Verde.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
The 2026 World Cup moves into its first knockout round with several high-profile matchups and little room for squad management. Al Jazeera’s Frank Dell’Apa identified eight Round of 32 games to watch, led by a rare early knockout meeting between two top-10 teams.
Netherlands face Morocco on Monday, June 29, at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico, with kickoff listed at 7pm local time and 01:00 GMT on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera. Morocco are sixth in FIFA’s rankings and the Netherlands seventh, and the match renews a World Cup pairing last seen in 1994, when the Dutch won 2-1 in Orlando.
Al Jazeera said Morocco’s back line against Dutch forwards Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo will be central to the contest. Morocco reached the semifinals in Qatar in 2022 after beating three European opponents, while Ismael Saibari’s familiarity with Dutch football through PSV Eindhoven adds another link between the sides.
Ivory Coast meet Norway on Tuesday, June 30, at Dallas Stadium at 17:00 GMT, Al Jazeera reported. Norway coach Stale Solbakken rested Erling Haaland and other starters against France after saying the squad had been worn down, especially by a 3-2 win over Senegal.
Haaland enters the knockout game with four goals, and Al Jazeera said the indoor, climate-controlled venue should ease the heat and humidity issues that affected Norway in the group stage. Ivory Coast arrive after wins over Ecuador and Curacao and a narrow defeat to Germany, with Franck Kessie’s midfield duel against Martin Odegaard marked as a key matchup.
France play Sweden on Tuesday at New York/New Jersey Stadium, with kickoff set for 5pm local time and 21:00 GMT, according to Al Jazeera. France beat a rotated Norway side 4-1 in their final group match, and assistant coach Guy Stephan said Les Bleus could have scored more than their 10 group-stage goals.
Didier Deschamps has returned after missing the Norway match to attend his mother’s funeral, Al Jazeera reported. Sweden’s task, in Dell’Apa’s view, is to slow the pace and bring striker Viktor Gyokeres into the match against a French attack featuring Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise.
The United States face Bosnia on Wednesday, July 1, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, with kickoff listed as 5pm local time and 00:00 GMT on Thursday. Al Jazeera said coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to restore his first-choice lineup, while Bosnia include Esmir Bajraktarevic, who previously earned a US cap before switching allegiance.
Spain meet Austria on Thursday, July 2, at Los Angeles Stadium at noon local time and 19:00 GMT. Al Jazeera noted Spain have not lost to Austria since a 1990 friendly, though Austria beat Spain 2-1 at the 1978 World Cup.
Portugal and Croatia play later Thursday at Toronto Stadium, with kickoff at 7pm local time and 23:00 GMT. Al Jazeera pointed to the roles of Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modric, 40, after Portugal and Croatia entered the tournament ranked eighth and 13th.
Argentina face Cape Verde on Friday, July 3, at Miami Stadium at 6pm local time and 22:00 GMT. Al Jazeera described Cape Verde as the tournament’s surprise team, led by its defending and goalkeeper Vozinha, while Argentina continue to depend heavily on Lionel Messi.
Colombia close Al Jazeera’s watch list against Ghana on Friday in Kansas City, with kickoff at 8:30pm local time and 01:30 GMT on Saturday. Colombia won their group ahead of Portugal, while Ghana, coached by Carlos Queiroz, have relied on defensive structure and need more from Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo in attack.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.