2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 is the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage and is taking place from June 28 to July 3, 2026.[1] It is the first time that a FIFA World Cup has featured a single-elimination round with more than sixteen teams remaining in the tournament.
Sixteen matches are being played across fourteen host cities, with the sixteen winning teams advancing to the round of 16.
Matches
South Africa vs Canada
The teams' only previous meeting took place in a 2007 friendly, which ended in a 2–0 win for South Africa.[2]
After facing co-hosts Mexico in their opening group stage match, South Africa became the first team in tournament history to face two different host nations in a single edition since Turkey in 2002. It also marked the first time a host nation played a World Cup match outside its own borders, after a 2–1 loss to Switzerland in its final group stage match cost Canada a guaranteed home-field advantage.[3]
Following a goalless 90 minutes, two minutes into stoppage time, Canada vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio gained possession after the ball was headed towards him, before striking right-footed from the edge of the penalty area low into the bottom left corner of the net for the only goal of the match.[4]
With this win, Canada advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in their appearances at the World Cup, and will face Morocco in their next match. South Africa were eliminated from the tournament, marking their best World Cup finish since 2010.[5]
South Africa  | 0–1 |  Canada |
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| [Report 1] |
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         South Africa[6]
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    Canada[6]
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[6]
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Brazil vs Japan
The teams had previously met 14 times, including once in the World Cup: a 4–1 group stage win for Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their latest encounter took place at the 2025 Kirin Challenge Cup last October, when Japan gained their first win ever against Brazil in a 3–2 comeback.[8]
After 29 minutes, Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano made a solo run from the halfway line, before shooting low from outside the penalty area into the bottom left corner of the net to put Japan into the lead.[9] Japan nearly conceded seven minutes into the second half, with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki just managing to keep it off the line.
Defender Casemiro equalized for Brazil at 56 minutes, with a close-range header at the back post after a cross from Gabriel Magalhães from the left. With just a minute of added time remaining, Bruno Guimarães passed low into to Gabriel Martinelli on the left of the penalty area who shot low right footed to the bottom right corner of the net in off the post to win the game for Brazil on a 2-1 scoreline.[10]
The victory advanced Brazil to the round of 16, where they will face either Ivory Coast or Norway. Japan were eliminated, marking the third consecutive World Cup that they have had the lead in the knockout rounds and lost, with previous defeats to Croatia (in 2022) and Belgium (in 2018).[11]
Brazil  | 2–1 |  Japan |
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[Report 2] |
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     Brazil[12]
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     Japan[12]
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[12]
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Germany vs Paraguay
The teams had met twice—once in the round of 16 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, in which Germany defeated Paraguay 1–0, and a 2013 friendly match which ended 3–3. [13]
After 42 minutes, Paraguay won a corner on the right. Although goalkeeper Manuel Neuer managed to punch the ball out of the box from the corner, Germany failed to maintain possession. A series of passes sent the ball into the path of Paraguay midfielder Julio Enciso from the right, who headed the ball to the left past Neuer. This opened up the scoring, and was Paraguay's first ever goal in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup.
Eight minutes into the second half, German midfielder Florian Wirtz sent a cross into the penalty area from the left which found the head of his teammate Kai Havertz, who glanced it into the right corner of the net for the equalizer.
During extra time, a German corner kick from the right saw defender Jonathan Tah head the ball at the back post into the Paraguayan net. However, the goal was disallowed as VAR review found that goalkeeper Orlando Gill had been fouled in his box, and was unable to challenge for the ball fairly.[14][15] In the ensuing penalty shootout, Kai Havertz missed the first penalty of the shoot-out and the teams were tied at the end of five shots, with the shoot-out going into sudden death. Tah sent the ball high over the bar, allowing centre-back José Canale the chance to score to the top right of the net and ending the shootout 4–3 in Paraguay's favor.[16]
With this victory, Paraguay advanced to the round of 16, eliminating Germany. They will face France or Sweden in their next match. This also marks the first time Germany were ever defeated in a penalty shootout in the World Cup. [17][18]
     Germany[19]
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     Paraguay[19]
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[19]
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Netherlands vs Morocco
The teams had previously faced each other three times, including once in the World Cup: a 2–1 group stage win for Netherlands at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Their latest encounter was in a friendly match in 2017, also won by the Netherlands in a 2–1 margin.[20]
Following a goalless first half, including two back-to-back saves from Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, the Netherlands went in front after 72 minutes, a header from Wout Weghorst sent the ball into the path of his teammate Crysencio Summerville, who began a run into the Moroccan half. Though he was brought down, the Moroccan defence failed to clear the ball and it broke into the path of Cody Gakpo who smashed the ball low into the net from twelve yards out to put the Netherlands into the lead.[21]
As the game went into stoppage time, a long ball from Chemsdine Talbi outside the box on the left found the head of centre-back Issa Diop, who headed powerfully to the right of the net from six yards out for the equalizer. After a goalless extra-time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Teun Koopmeiners took the first penalty of the shoot-out and scored. Ismael Saibari scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out with a low shot to the left to secure victory for Morocco, after the Dutch had missed three penalty kicks, including their last two kicks, with Morocco also missing two penalties.[22]
Morocco advanced to the round of 16, and will face co-host Canada next. This match marks the Netherlands' third consecutive World Cup elimination via penalty shootout, with similar defeats happening in 2022 and 2014 (both against Argentina).
Netherlands  | 1–1 (a.e.t.) |  Morocco |
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[Report 4] |
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| Penalties | ||
| 2–3 | ||
    Netherlands[23]
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     Morocco[23]
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[23]
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Ivory Coast vs Norway
The two teams have never met before.
Ivory Coast  | Match 78 |  Norway |
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| [Report 5] |
     Ivory Coast
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    Norway
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Assistant referees:
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France vs Sweden
The teams have previously faced each other 23 times, most recently in 2020, a 4–2 group stage win for France in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A.[24]
France  | Match 77 |  Sweden |
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| [Report 6] |
     France
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     Sweden
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Assistant referees:
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Mexico vs Ecuador
The teams have faced each other in 28 previous matches, including a 2–1 group stage victory for Mexico in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Their latest meeting took place October 2025 in a 1–1 friendly.[25] Additionally, the last time both teams encountered each other on the pitch of the Azteca was a friendly that ended in a 3–1 victory for Mexico on February 5, 1997.[26]
Mexico  | Match 79 |  Ecuador |
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| [Report 7] |
     Mexico
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    Ecuador
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Assistant referees:
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England vs DR Congo
The two teams have never met before.
England  | Match 80 |  DR Congo |
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| [Report 8] |
     England
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     DR Congo
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Assistant referees:
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Belgium vs Senegal
The two teams have never met before.
Belgium  | Match 82 |  Senegal |
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| [Report 9] |
     Belgium
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     Senegal
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Assistant referees:
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United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
The United States has never lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in three previous encounters, winning twice, most recently 1–0 in a friendly in 2021.[27]
    United States
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    Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Assistant referees:
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Spain vs Austria
The two teams have met 16 times before this match, including a 2–1 group stage win for Austria in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. Their most recent encounter was a friendly in 2009 that ended 5–1 to Spain.[28]
Spain  | Match 84 |  Austria |
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| [Report 11] |
     Spain
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     Austria
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Assistant referees:
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Portugal vs Croatia
The two teams have met 10 times before, with Portugal winning seven matches. Their most recent meeting was a 1–1 group stage draw in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A.[29]
Portugal  | Match 83 |  Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| [Report 12] |
     Portugal
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    Croatia
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Assistant referees:
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Switzerland vs Algeria
The teams have met on two occasions, with Switzerland winning both friendlies, most recently in 1986 by 2–0.[30]
Switzerland  | Match 85 |  Algeria |
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| [Report 13] |
    Switzerland
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     Algeria
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Assistant referees:
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Australia vs Egypt
Australia and Egypt have met twice before, most recently in 2010, a 3–0 win for Egypt in a friendly.[31]
Australia  | Match 88 |  Egypt |
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| [Report 14] |
    Australia
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    Egypt
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Argentina vs Cape Verde
The two teams have never met before.
     Argentina
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     Cape Verde
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Colombia vs Ghana
The two teams have never met before.
Colombia  | Match 87 |  Ghana |
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| [Report 16] |
    Colombia
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   Ghana
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