World Cup 2026 Round of 16: Full Bracket, Confirmed Matchups & Schedule
The World Cup 2026 Round of 16 bracket is fully confirmed after a Round of 32 full of upsets. Germany eliminated, Morocco through and already into the quarter-finals. Here are all 8 R16 matchups and dates.
The Round of 32 is nearly complete. The upsets have been seismic. The Round of 16 bracket is taking shape — and it is delivering matchups that nobody could have predicted.
Germany are out. Eliminated by Paraguay on penalties. Jonathan Tah's goal ruled out by VAR in extra time. One of the tournament's biggest shocks.
Morocco beat the Netherlands. Issa Diop equalised in the 90th minute. Bounou saved the decisive penalty in the shootout. The Atlas Lions march on.
Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time. Tielemans' controversial 117th-minute penalty completing a comeback from 2-0 down with three minutes left. Madness.
This is World Cup 2026.
Confirmed Round of 16 Matchups
July 4
Canada vs Morocco — RESULT: Morocco 3-0 NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
The Canada-Morocco Round of 16 was the tie that encapsulated this entire tournament — Canada's history-making run against Morocco's perennial giant-killing. It wasn't close. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice and Soufiane Rahimi added a third as Morocco cruised into the quarter-finals, ending Canada's fairytale run.
→ Full match report: Morocco 3-0 Canada
Paraguay vs France Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The shock of the tournament — Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties. Now they face France, who destroyed Sweden 3-0 with Mbappé scoring twice and Olise running the show with five tournament assists.
France are the heavy favourites. But nobody said that about Germany vs Paraguay.
Prediction: France 2-0 — The quality gap is significant. Mbappé alone is too much for Paraguay.
July 5
Brazil vs Norway MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Haaland vs Brazil. The most anticipated matchup of the Round of 16.
Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1, with Martinelli's last-minute screamer saving them. They were not convincing — Japan made them uncomfortable throughout.
Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1, with Haaland's 86th-minute winner capping a comeback after Amad Diallo had equalised. Haaland now has 60 international goals in 53 matches.
Brazil have quality throughout. Norway have Haaland. This should be extraordinary.
Prediction: Brazil 2-1 (Haaland scores but Brazil win on quality depth)
Mexico vs England Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
The fixture of a lifetime, in one of football's greatest stadiums.
Mexico ended their 40-year knockout curse by beating Ecuador 2-0 at Azteca. Quiñones and Jiménez scored in the first half in front of 87,000 delirious fans. The quinto partido is dead.
England beat DR Congo 2-1, but looked uncomfortable for most of the match before Harry Kane's 75th- and 86th-minute brace rescued them. England are through — but they were not convincing.
Azteca. 87,000 Mexicans. Kane vs Mexico's defence. History waiting to happen.
Prediction: Mexico 1-0 or Mexico wins on penalties — Azteca is worth a goal. England away from home, against this crowd, this pressure, will struggle.
July 6
Portugal vs Spain AT&T Stadium, Dallas/Arlington, Texas
An all-Iberian Round of 16 clash. Portugal survived a stoppage-time scare against Croatia — 1-1 with 4 minutes of added time to go, before Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty and a Gonçalo Ramos header won it 2-1. Spain ended a 16-year World Cup knockout drought by beating Austria 3-0, Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice.
Two of Europe's most technically gifted sides, for a quarter-final spot.
→ Portugal 2-1 Croatia — full report → Spain 3-0 Austria — full report
USA vs Belgium Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
The USA ended a 24-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, beating Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 in front of a raucous home crowd in the Bay Area. Belgium needed extra time to see off Senegal 3-2, coming back from 2-0 down inside the final five minutes of normal time.
A host nation full of belief against a Golden Generation with something to prove.
→ USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina — full report
July 7
Argentina vs Egypt Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Messi vs Salah, in a World Cup knockout match. Argentina needed extra time to get past Cape Verde 3-2 in the biggest scare of their tournament — the debutants twice came from behind before Argentina finally won it in the 111th minute. Egypt eliminated Australia 4-2 on penalties, with Mohamed Salah converting a cool panenka in the shootout.
→ Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (AET) — full report → Egypt eliminate Australia on penalties — full report
Switzerland vs Colombia BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Switzerland ended an 88-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, beating Algeria 2-0. Colombia edged past Ghana 1-0 thanks to Jhon Arias, set up by substitute Luis Suárez just six minutes after coming on — the fastest goal contribution by a substitute in World Cup history.
→ Switzerland 2-0 Algeria — full report → Colombia 1-0 Ghana — full report
Round of 32 Results Summary
| Match | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa 0-1 Canada | Canada through | Eustáquio 92' — historic first knockout win |
| Brazil 2-1 Japan | Brazil through | Late winner |
| Netherlands 1-1 Morocco | Morocco through (3-2 pens) | Diop 90'+1 equaliser — biggest upset so far |
| Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway | Norway through | Haaland winner |
| France 3-0 Sweden | France through | Mbappé brace — breaks World Cup knockout record |
| Mexico 2-0 Ecuador | Mexico through | Ends 40-year knockout curse |
| Germany 1-1 Paraguay | Paraguay through (4-3 pens) | Tah header disallowed by VAR — Germany OUT |
| England 2-1 DR Congo | England through | Harry Kane brace |
| Belgium 3-2 Senegal (AET) | Belgium through | 2-0 down late — Belgium complete comeback |
| USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina | USA through | Balogun, Tillman — first USMNT knockout win since 2002 |
| Spain 3-0 Austria | Spain through | Oyarzabal double — first knockout win since 2010 |
| Portugal 2-1 Croatia | Portugal through | Ramos 90'+4 winner |
| Switzerland 2-0 Algeria | Switzerland through | First knockout win since 1938 |
| Australia 1-1 Egypt | Egypt through (4-2 pens) | Salah panenka in shootout |
| Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (AET) | Argentina through | Cape Verde twice equalised before extra time |
| Colombia 1-0 Ghana | Colombia through | Arias, assisted by substitute Suárez |
→ Full Round of 32 results and every match report
The Quarter-Final Picture
Morocco has already booked its quarter-final place after beating Canada. The other three quarter-finalists from this side and half of the bracket will be decided as the remaining Round of 16 ties are played July 4-7, with the quarter-finals following on July 9-11.
This World Cup is delivering. Every bracket position earned. No easy matches from here.
→ Interactive bracket simulator → Watch all Round of 16 matches
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
The World Cup 2026 Round of 16 runs from July 4 to July 7, 2026, across eight venues in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Who plays in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
All 8 confirmed matchups: Canada vs Morocco and Paraguay vs France (July 4), Brazil vs Norway and Mexico vs England (July 5), Portugal vs Spain and USA vs Belgium (July 6), Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia (July 7).
Is Germany out of World Cup 2026?
Yes. Germany were eliminated by Paraguay in the Round of 32. Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Jonathan Tah's extra-time header controversially ruled out by VAR.
Did Morocco qualify for the Round of 16?
Yes, and they've already gone through it. Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties in the Round of 32, then thrashed Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 on July 4 to reach the quarter-finals.
Who are the favourites to win World Cup 2026 after the Round of 32?
France, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are considered the strongest teams heading into the Round of 16. Paraguay's elimination of Germany is the biggest upset and adds uncertainty to the bottom half of the bracket.
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