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The knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, with the Round of 32 featuring some blockbuster encounters across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among the standout ties are Brazil versus Japan, France against Sweden, Portugal taking on Croatia, and Argentina facing Cape Verde in what promises to be an exciting first knockout round.
Confirmed Round of 32 Fixtures
Date Fixture Venue
June 28 South Africa vs Canada Los Angeles Stadium
June 29 Brazil vs Japan Houston Stadium
June 29 Germany vs Paraguay Boston Stadium
June 29 Netherlands vs Morocco Monterrey Stadium
June 30 Ivory Coast vs Norway Dallas Stadium
June 30 France vs Sweden New York/New Jersey Stadium
July 1 England vs DR Congo Atlanta Stadium
July 1 Mexico vs Ecuador Guadalajara Stadium
July 1 Belgium vs Senegal Toronto Stadium
July 2 United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
July 2 Spain vs Austria Seattle Stadium
July 2 Algeria vs Switzerland Kansas City Stadium
July 3 Portugal vs Croatia Miami Stadium
July 3 Australia vs Egypt Vancouver Stadium
July 3 Argentina vs Cape Verde Miami Stadium
July 4 Colombia vs Ghana Kansas City Stadium
The expanded 48-team format has produced a diverse knockout field, with African nations enjoying a particularly strong showing. Seven African teams advanced to the Round of 32, including South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, and Ghana.
Several ties have already generated huge interest among fans, notably the clashes involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Lionel Messi’s Argentina, and the highly anticipated France versus Sweden encounter. Ticket demand and television audiences are expected to reach record levels as the tournament enters its decisive stage.
