World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Official Bracket, All 16 Matches & Schedule

The World Cup 2026 group stage is done. The 32 teams are confirmed. The bracket is set.

Sixteen matches. Seven days. Thirty-two teams become sixteen.

The Round of 32 is the tournament format's newest round — introduced with the expanded 48-team format — and it is already delivering the kind of matchups that will define this World Cup's legacy. Rematches of historic encounters. Giant-killers facing the giants they killed. Home nations at maximum pressure.

Here is every match.

Full Round of 32 Bracket

July 1

Match 1: France vs Cape Verde Group I winners vs Group H third place Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

The reigning World Cup's most complete team against the group stage's most unexpected third-place qualifier. Cape Verde beat Saudi Arabia on the final matchday to claim their Round of 32 spot — one of the tournament's more remarkable qualifying stories. France are the overwhelming favourites. Whether Mbappé is fully fit after a minor knock in the group stage will dominate the pre-match conversation. Prediction: France win 3-0

Match 2: Germany vs Scotland Group E winners vs Group C third place Kickoff: 9:00 PM ET | Venue: AT&T Stadium, Dallas

Germany's revenge match waiting to happen — except it isn't really revenge, because Scotland never beat Germany in Qatar. What it is, however, is the tournament's best-branded clash for neutral viewers: Germany's relentless attacking machine versus Scotland's gritty, resilient third-place qualifiers who held Brazil to a draw on the final matchday. Don't underestimate Scotland. They earned their 4 points. Prediction: Germany win 2-0, but expect Scotland to make them work for it

Match 3: Morocco vs Colombia Group C winners vs Group K runners-up Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

The Atlas Lions' first knockout match. Morocco finished the group stage as the most tactically disciplined team outside the traditional giants — 7 points, group winners, not a goal conceded in open play from open-play situations without response. Colombia finished second in Group K behind Portugal and have shown attacking flair that will genuinely test Morocco's defensive organisation.

This is the match Moroccan fans have been waiting for. Morocco have the structure to win it. Prediction: Morocco win 1-0 (or 2-1 in extra time if Colombia find an equaliser)

→ Full Morocco vs Colombia preview and prediction

Match 4: USA vs Senegal Group D winners vs Group I third place Kickoff: 9:00 PM ET | Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena

The USA's first knockout match is the one American fans have been simultaneously dreading and craving. Senegal, with 3 points from a competitive Group I, bring Sadio Mané-era quality and a defensive organisation that frustrated both France and Norway. The USA's attacking depth is real. The question is whether their defence — already leaky in the 1-1 draw against Turkey — can handle Senegal's pace on the counter. Prediction: USA win 2-1

July 2

Match 5: England vs Iran Group L winners vs Group G third place Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: Levi's Stadium, San Francisco

England qualified from Group L without conceding their tactical limitations. Iran finished third in Group G on 3 points — a result that flatters neither. This should be the most straightforward match of the Round of 32 on paper. England's quality is several levels above Iran's, and a fully-fit forward line should make the difference emphatically. Prediction: England win 3-0

Match 6: Brazil vs Uruguay Group C runners-up vs Group H runners-up Kickoff: 9:00 PM ET | Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando

South America's most emotionally loaded fixture — the Clásico del Río de la Plata, in a knockout match, at the World Cup. Brazil arrive in the Round of 32 slightly humbled by Morocco's group stage dominance but with attacking quality that remains among the tournament's best. Uruguay are the kind of opponent Brazil have historically found more difficult than the seedings suggest. Set pieces, physical intensity, and tactical cynicism are Uruguay weapons that neutralise Brazil's technical advantage.

This match will be decided by one moment. It always is with these two. Prediction: Brazil win 1-0 (or on penalties)

→ Full Brazil vs Uruguay preview and prediction

Match 7: Spain vs Croatia Group H winners vs Group L third place Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston

The European champions against the 2018 finalists, playing in their most familiar format — a technical chess match between two nations that understand each other extremely well. Croatia at this tournament are a different Croatia from the team that reached the 2018 and 2022 knockout stages — older, with less Modrić than before, carrying more uncertainty. Spain's technical superiority is not in question. Prediction: Spain win 2-0

Match 8: Argentina vs Egypt Group J winners vs Group G runners-up Kickoff: 9:00 PM ET | Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Argentina are the defending champions. But Argentina after this group stage are not a team that inspires the kind of fear their 2022 version did. Messi is managing minutes. The system is more defensive than at any point under Scaloni. Egypt, meanwhile, finished second in Group G with a quality performance against Belgium — they can defend, they can hurt teams on the counter, and they do not fear reputations.

This is Argentina's most dangerous Round of 32 match on paper. Don't discount Egypt. Prediction: Argentina win 2-1 (tense, close, possibly goes to extra time)

July 3

Match 9: Netherlands vs Ghana Group F winners vs Group L runners-up Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: Empower Field, Denver

Netherlands enter the Round of 32 with the most questions of any group winner. Their 2-2 draw with Japan showed they can be cut open at the back. Their 5-1 win over Sweden showed they can score freely at the front. Ghana's qualification from Group L was built on compact defending and clinical finishing — a profile that will test the Dutch at both ends. Prediction: Netherlands win 2-1

Match 10: Belgium vs Paraguay Group G winners vs Group D runners-up Kickoff: 9:00 PM ET | Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale

Belgium's Round of 32 match is the kind of fixture that decides whether their Golden Generation's final act ends in Round of 32 embarrassment or semi-final vindication. Paraguay have shown they can compete — their performances against USA and Australia demonstrated a team that will not sit back. Belgium's experience in knockout football, however, is decisive. Prediction: Belgium win 2-0

July 4 — Independence Day

Match 11: Mexico vs Japan Group A winners vs Group F runners-up Kickoff: 5:00 PM ET | Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Mexico's Round of 32 on Mexican soil, on American Independence Day. The context is enormous. Japan are giant-killers — they eliminated Germany in Qatar 2022, and they have the talent to do it again. Mexico will have 85,000 fans driving the atmosphere at the Azteca. Japan have the tactical intelligence to use that atmosphere against the hosts. This is the Round of 32 match that neutrals will watch most closely. Prediction: Mexico win 2-1 (after extra time — Japan make Mexico suffer)

Match 12: Canada vs South Korea Group B winners vs Group A runners-up Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET | Venue: BC Place, Vancouver

Canada's Round of 32 is at home — literally. BC Place in Vancouver will be at maximum volume for Canada's first knockout match in World Cup history. South Korea's technical quality and tactical discipline are exactly the kind of opposition that asks questions Canada's defensive line has not convincingly answered. But Canada's attacking depth — their +10 group stage goal difference is not a fluke — makes them clear favourites. Prediction: Canada win 1-0

July 5

Match 13: Portugal vs Australia Group K winners vs Group D third place Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: Gillette Stadium, Boston

Portugal enter the Round of 32 in the form of their group stage: controlled, inventive, and building toward something better in the later rounds. Australia's 3 points from three group games gave them a third-place spot, but the Socceroos were not convincing in the group stage. Portugal's depth — Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva operating together — is simply a different level. Prediction: Portugal win 3-0

Match 14: Norway vs Ivory Coast Group I runners-up vs Group E runners-up Kickoff: 9:00 PM ET | Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville

The Round of 32's most underrated match. Both teams had excellent group stages. Ivory Coast held Germany to a closer game than the 2-1 scoreline suggests before finishing second. Norway's Haaland was quieter than expected in the group stage — the Round of 32 is the stage where tournament players tend to arrive. Ivory Coast's electric attacking trio will test Norway's defence. Prediction: Norway win 2-1

July 6

Match 15: Switzerland vs Algeria Group B runners-up vs Group J third place Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Switzerland are the definition of organised and dangerous. Algeria's 4 points in Group J — including a draw against Argentina — made them one of the best third-place teams in the tournament. The Atlas Fennecs will arrive with genuine belief that they can cause an upset. Switzerland have been in this situation before and they know how to handle it. Prediction: Switzerland win 1-0 (very tight)

July 7

Match 16: Austria vs Sweden Group J runners-up vs Group F third place Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET | Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

The Round of 32 closes with what looks like the most evenly matched fixture of the round. Austria secured second place behind Argentina after a 2-2 draw in their decisive final group game. Sweden's 3 points — built on their 5-1 win over Tunisia in matchday 1 — brought them to the knockouts. Both teams are capable. Neither is expected to go much further. Whoever wins faces Belgium in the Round of 16. Prediction: Austria win 1-0

Summary: 16 Match Predictions

Build Your Own Bracket

Think you know better? Our interactive bracket tool lets you simulate the entire knockout stage — pick your Round of 32 winners, then play out the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semis, and the final.

→ Interactive bracket at kickoff26.xyz/bracket → AI match predictor — get predictions for any specific tie → Final group standings — how we got here