World Cup round of 32 field takes shape as knockout stage nears
Al Jazeera reported that 26 teams have qualified so far for the first 48-team World Cup knockout round, which starts June 28.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is close to settling its first 32-team knockout bracket, with play in the new round of 32 due to start Sunday, according to Al Jazeera. The expanded tournament in North America has 48 teams for the first time, creating an extra elimination round before the round of 16.
Al Jazeera reported that 26 teams had secured places in the knockout stage as of June 27, leaving several spots still tied to remaining group outcomes and third-place rankings. The format sends the top two teams from each of the 12 groups through, along with the eight best third-place finishers.
Knockout format and dates
After the round of 32, the World Cup proceeds to the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, a third-place match and the final. Al Jazeera listed the round-by-round dates as follows:
- Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
- Round of 16: July 4 to July 7
- Quarterfinals: July 9 to July 11
- Semifinals: July 14 to July 15
- Third-place match: July 18
- Final: July 19
Teams through so far
The qualified teams named by Al Jazeera are Colombia, Argentina, France, Norway, Germany, the United States, Mexico, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Cape Verde, Paraguay, Egypt, England, Ghana and Portugal.
Cape Verde is among the debutants to have made an impact, according to Al Jazeera. Reuters and Getty Images photographs cited by Al Jazeera showed Cape Verde players celebrating after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Houston that confirmed their move into the knockout stage.
Round of 32 schedule
Al Jazeera listed the following fixtures, venues and GMT times, with several matchups still awaiting final group placements:
- Sunday, June 28: South Africa vs Canada, 19:00 GMT, Los Angeles Stadium, USA.
- Monday, June 29: Brazil vs Japan, 17:00 GMT, Houston Stadium, USA.
- Monday, June 29: Germany vs Paraguay, 20:30 GMT, Boston Stadium, USA.
- Monday, June 29: Netherlands vs Morocco, 01:00 GMT+1, Estadio Monterrey, Mexico.
- Tuesday, June 30: Ivory Coast vs Norway, 17:00 GMT, Dallas Stadium, USA.
- Tuesday, June 30: France vs Sweden, 22:00 GMT, New York New Jersey Stadium, USA.
- Tuesday, June 30: Mexico vs 3C/3E/3F/3H/3I, 02:00 GMT+1, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico.
- Wednesday, July 1: USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 01:00 GMT+1, San Francisco Stadium, USA.
- Wednesday, July 1: 1L vs 3EHIJK, 16:00 GMT, Atlanta Stadium, USA.
- Wednesday, July 1: 1G vs 3AEHIJ, 20:00 GMT, Seattle Stadium, USA.
- Thursday, July 2: Spain vs 2J, 19:00 GMT, Los Angeles Stadium, USA.
- Thursday, July 2: 2K vs 2L, 23:00 GMT, Toronto Stadium, Canada.
- Thursday, July 2: Switzerland vs 3EFGIJ, 03:00 GMT+1, Vancouver Stadium, Canada.
- Friday, July 3: Australia vs 2G, 18:00 GMT, Dallas Stadium, USA.
- Friday, July 3: Argentina vs Cape Verde, 22:00 GMT, Miami Stadium, USA.
- Friday, July 3: 1K vs 3DEIJL, 01:30 GMT+1, Kansas City Stadium, USA.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.