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2026 World Cup Round of 16: Schedule, Matchups, and Team Qualifications

The 2026 FIFA World Cup began with 48 teams, but after a thrilling Round of 32 filled with penalty shootouts, last-minute goals, and surprising eliminations, only 16 squads remain in contention. The co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States have all exited the tournament, leaving traditional powerhouses like Argentina, Belgium, England, France, and Spain to vie for the trophy.

The knockout phase now turns into sudden-death matches, where every game means elimination or progression. Two Round of 16 games will wrap up on Tuesday, finalizing the quarterfinal lineup.

How Teams Advanced

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups automatically moved on, joined by the eight best third-placed teams across all groups. The Round of 32 saw early exits for favorites such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan.

Round of 16 Matches and Results

  • Saturday, July 4Morocco 3, Canada 0France 1, Paraguay 0Next match: Morocco vs. France on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET in Boston
  • Sunday, July 5Norway 2, Brazil 1England 3, Mexico 2Next match: Norway vs. England on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET in Miami
  • Monday, July 6Spain 1, Portugal 0Belgium 4, USA 1Next match: Spain vs. Belgium on Friday at 3 p.m. ET in Los Angeles
  • Tuesday, July 7Egypt vs. Argentina, 12 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaSwitzerland vs. Colombia, 4 p.m. ET at BC Place, Vancouver

Upcoming Quarterfinal Schedule

  • Thursday, July 9France vs. Morocco, 4 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
  • Friday, July 10Spain vs. Belgium, 3 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
  • Saturday, July 11Norway vs. England, 5 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami GardensWinner of Egypt/Argentina vs. Winner of Switzerland/Colombia, 9 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Semifinals and Final

  • Tuesday, July 14Winner of France/Morocco vs. Winner of Spain/Belgium, 3 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • Wednesday, July 15Winner of Norway/England vs. Winner of Egypt/Argentina or Switzerland/Colombia, 3 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
  • Saturday, July 18Third-place match, 5 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
  • Sunday, July 19Final, 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Round of 32 Recap

The Round of 32 produced intense games, including:

  • Canada edged South Africa 1-0
  • Brazil narrowly defeated Japan 2-1
  • Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties, 4-3 after a 1-1 draw
  • Morocco knocked out the Netherlands on penalties, 3-2 after a 1-1 draw
  • Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1
  • France overwhelmed Sweden 3-0
  • Mexico won against Ecuador 2-0
  • England defeated Congo DR 2-1
  • Belgium outlasted Senegal 3-2
  • USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0
  • Spain shut out Austria 3-0
  • Portugal won 2-1 over Croatia
  • Switzerland triumphed 2-0 over Algeria
  • Egypt advanced past Australia on penalties, 4-2 after a 1-1 draw
  • Argentina topped Cape Verde 3-2
  • Colombia edged Ghana 1-0

Group Stage Summary

Each group delivered drama with several teams advancing automatically and others progressing as best third-place finishers.

Each group's standings shaped the Round of 32 matchups, leading to some unexpected outcomes and setting the stage for the knockout battles ahead.

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