World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Format, Schedule, Bracket and Results
The World Cup 2026 Round of 32 was the first knockout round of the expanded 48 team tournament, played from June 28 to July 3, 2026. It cut the field from 32 nations to 16 across 16 single elimination matches, and every winner advanced to the Round of 16.
This was the first World Cup ever to feature a Round of 32. Below you will find the full results, the schedule, the completed bracket, qualification rules and where to watch.
Round of 32 at a glance:
- Dates: June 28 to July 3, 2026
- Teams: 32 (12 group winners, 12 runners up, 8 best third placed)
- Format: single elimination, with extra time and penalties if level
- Advanced: 16 nations to the Round of 16
- Shootouts: 3 (Germany, Netherlands and Australia all exited on penalties)
- Biggest upset: Paraguay knocked out Germany
What is the World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
The Round of 32 was the opening knockout round at the 48 team World Cup. With 12 groups of four, FIFA added this stage to trim the field, so the bracket now runs Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.
Every tie was a one off straight knockout, with no draws and no replays. The winner advanced, and the loser was eliminated.
How Teams Qualified for the Round of 32
Thirty two of the 48 teams reached the last 32:
- 12 group winners
- 12 group runners up
- 8 best third placed teams
The top two in each group qualified automatically, filling 24 places. The final eight came from the third place race, ranked in this order:
- Points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Disciplinary fair play score
- FIFA World Ranking
New for 2026, the old drawing of lots is gone, so every goal and every booking counts. The eight third placed teams that advanced were Paraguay, Ecuador, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senegal, Algeria, DR Congo and Ghana.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule
The Round of 32 ran over six days, from Sunday, June 28 to Friday, July 3, 2026. The table below lists all 16 fixtures by date, kickoff in US Eastern Time and venue. For a printable copy, use the full World Cup 2026 schedule.
| Match | Date | Fixture | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | Sun, Jun 28 | South Africa vs Canada | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 76 | Mon, Jun 29 | Brazil vs Japan | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 74 | Mon, Jun 29 | Germany vs Paraguay | 4:30 PM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 75 | Mon, Jun 29 | Netherlands vs Morocco | 9:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 78 | Tue, Jun 30 | Ivory Coast vs Norway | 1:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 77 | Tue, Jun 30 | France vs Sweden | 5:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New York New Jersey |
| 79 | Tue, Jun 30 | Mexico vs Ecuador | 9:00 PM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 80 | Wed, Jul 1 | England vs DR Congo | 12:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 82 | Wed, Jul 1 | Belgium vs Senegal | 4:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 81 | Wed, Jul 1 | USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 84 | Thu, Jul 2 | Spain vs Austria | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 83 | Thu, Jul 2 | Portugal vs Croatia | 7:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 85 | Thu, Jul 2 | Switzerland vs Algeria | 11:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 88 | Fri, Jul 3 | Australia vs Egypt | 2:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 86 | Fri, Jul 3 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | 6:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 87 | Fri, Jul 3 | Colombia vs Ghana | 9:30 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
The round used 14 of the 16 host venues across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with only Philadelphia and Guadalajara sitting it out. FIFA host city branding also lists some as Los Angeles Stadium, New York New Jersey Stadium and Mexico City Stadium.
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Results
All 16 matches are complete, and 16 nations booked a Round of 16 place. Three ties went to penalties and two were settled in extra time. The winning team is shown in bold.
| Match | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | South Africa vs Canada | Canada 1-0 |
| 76 | Brazil vs Japan | Brazil 2-1 |
| 74 | Germany vs Paraguay | Paraguay 1-1 (4-3 pens) |
| 75 | Netherlands vs Morocco | Morocco 1-1 (3-2 pens) |
| 78 | Ivory Coast vs Norway | Norway 2-1 |
| 77 | France vs Sweden | France 3-0 |
| 79 | Mexico vs Ecuador | Mexico 2-0 |
| 80 | England vs DR Congo | England 2-1 |
| 82 | Belgium vs Senegal | Belgium 3-2 (AET) |
| 81 | USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | USA 2-0 |
| 84 | Spain vs Austria | Spain 3-0 |
| 83 | Portugal vs Croatia | Portugal 2-1 |
| 85 | Switzerland vs Algeria | Switzerland 2-0 |
| 88 | Australia vs Egypt | Egypt 1-1 (4-2 pens) |
| 86 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | Argentina 3-2 (AET) |
| 87 | Colombia vs Ghana | Colombia 1-0 |
Standout results:
- Paraguay 1-1 Germany (4-3 pens): the biggest upset of the round
- Morocco 1-1 Netherlands (3-2 pens): the Dutch out on penalties again
- Egypt 1-1 Australia (4-2 pens): Egypt reached the knockouts for the first time
- Extra time survivors: holders Argentina beat Cape Verde and Belgium edged Senegal
Last updated: July 3, 2026. The Round of 32 is complete. The 16 teams through to the Round of 16 are Canada, Paraguay, Morocco, Brazil, France, Norway, Mexico, England, USA, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Colombia and Egypt.
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Bracket Explained
With every result in, the bracket is set. Each tie was numbered 73 to 88, and every winner moved into a fixed Round of 16 slot decided at the Final Draw. Here are the Round of 16 matchups, which run from July 4 to July 7, 2026.
| Match | Round of 16 Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Paraguay vs France | Philadelphia |
| 90 | Canada vs Morocco | Houston |
| 91 | Brazil vs Norway | New York New Jersey |
| 92 | Mexico vs England | Mexico City |
| 93 | Portugal vs Spain | Dallas |
| 94 | USA vs Belgium | Seattle |
| 95 | Argentina vs Egypt | Atlanta |
| 96 | Switzerland vs Colombia | Vancouver |
The third place slots were set once the group stage ended on June 27, using the preset combinations in Annex C of the tournament regulations.
The pairings were not random: each qualifying third placed team was assigned by which groups the eight came from.
Review the final tables on the live World Cup 2026 standings, or test outcomes with the World Cup 2026 simulator.
Knockout Rules: Extra Time and Penalties
Every Round of 32 tie had to produce a winner. Here is how a level score was settled:
- Level after 90 minutes: 30 minutes of extra time, in two 15 minute halves
- Still level after extra time: a penalty shootout
- Shootout: five kicks each, then sudden death until one side wins
- No away goals rule and no replays
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 Round of 32
Coverage of the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 by region:
- United States: FOX and FS1 in English, streaming on Fox One and the FOX Sports app; Telemundo and Universo in Spanish, with every game on Peacock; Tubi free for select matches
- United Kingdom: BBC and ITV, free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX
- Canada: CTV and TSN in English, RDS in French
- Australia: SBS free across SBS, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Recap and the Road Ahead
The World Cup 2026 Round of 32 delivered the sudden death drama the 48 team format promised, from shootout heartbreak for Germany and the Netherlands to extra time escapes for Argentina and Belgium.
Sixteen teams remain, led by Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain, England and Portugal, and the bracket now rolls into the Round of 16. Bookmark this page for every result and the matchups that follow.
FAQ About the World Cup 2026 Round of 32
Which teams advanced from the World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
Sixteen teams reached the Round of 16: Canada, Paraguay, Morocco, Brazil, France, Norway, Mexico, England, USA, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Colombia and Egypt. Each side won its single elimination tie between June 28 and July 3, 2026.
Were there any upsets in the Round of 32?
Yes. Paraguay knocked out Germany on penalties and Morocco eliminated the Netherlands in a shootout, the two biggest surprises of the round. Egypt also beat Australia on penalties to reach the knockout stage for the first time, while holders Argentina survived a scare against Cape Verde in extra time.
How many Round of 32 matches went to extra time or penalties?
Five of the 16 ties needed more than 90 minutes. Three went to a penalty shootout: Germany against Paraguay, Netherlands against Morocco and Australia against Egypt. Two were decided in extra time: Belgium against Senegal and Argentina against Cape Verde.
How is the new Round of 32 different from the old Round of 16?
The old format sent only 16 teams to the knockouts, so the first knockout round was the Round of 16. The 48 team format adds an earlier round, the Round of 32, which means there is now one extra knockout stage before the Round of 16. In short, a team needs to win one more match to reach the quarterfinals.
Was VAR used during the Round of 32?
Yes. Video Assistant Referee technology was in use throughout the 2026 World Cup, including every knockout match. VAR could review goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity, and it featured in the Round of 32, including a disallowed goal and a red card in the USA win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Could two teams from the same group meet in the Round of 32?
No. FIFA designed the bracket so that teams from the same group could not face each other in the Round of 32. The placement rules for the eight third placed teams were built to avoid early rematches between group rivals, so the earliest two group rivals could meet again was later in the knockout stage.
