Football Jun 28, 2026

World Cup 2026 bracket and knockout fixtures - who's facing who in the last 32 and route to final

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
World Cup 2026 bracket and knockout fixtures - who's facing who in the last 32 and route to final

As the World Cup group stage draws to a close, it's time to start looking ahead to the knockout rounds and potential routes to the final on July 19.

Here's a look at how the last 32 and how the rest of the tournament is unfolding, as things stand...

Sunday June 28

Match 73: South Africa vs Canada, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA

Monday June 29

Match 76: Brazil vs Japan, kick-off 6pm - Houston, USA

Match 74: Germany vs Paraguay, kick-off 9.30pm - Foxborough, USA

Tuesday June 30

Match 75: Netherlands vs Morocco, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, Mexico

Match 78: Ivory Coast vs Norway, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, USA

Match 77: France vs Sweden, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, USA

Wednesday July 1

Match 79: Mexico vs Ecuador, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, Mexico

Match 80: England vs DR Congo, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, USA

Match 82: Belgium vs Senegal, kick-off 9pm - Seattle, USA

Thursday July 2

Match 81: USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina, kick-off 1am - Santa Clara, USA

Match 84: Spain vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA

Friday July 3

Match 83: Portugal vs Croatia, kick-off 12am - Toronto, Canada

Match 85: Switzerland vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, Canada

Match 88: Australia vs Egypt, kick-off 7pm - Arlington, USA

Match 86: Argentina vs Cape Verde, kick-off 11pm - Miami, USA

Saturday July 4

Match 87: Colombia vs Ghana, kick-off 2.30am - Kansas City, USA

There's a long way to go but France and Germany are on course to meet in the last 16, as are Portugal and Spain.

Germany or Paraguay vs France or Sweden

Canada or South Africa vs Morocco or Netherlands

USA or Bosnia vs Belgium or Senegal

Brazil or Japan vs Ivory Coast or Norway

Mexico or Ecuador vs England or DR Congo

Argentina or Cape Verde vs Australia or Egypt

England will face DR Congo in the last 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday (kick off 5pm).

If England were to progress from the round of 32, they would face a potential last-16 tie with a third-placed qualifier or co-hosts and confirmed Group A winners Mexico in Mexico City on Monday July 6 at 1am UK time.

Brazil are potential last-eight opponents on Saturday July 11, while holders Argentina could lie in wait in the semi-finals.

And then it could be a repeat of Euro 2024 and England vs Spain in the final.

As things stand, England will have to do it the hard away if they are to win a first World Cup since 1966.

Scotland are now officially out of the World Cup following Croatia's win over Ghana.

Mexico finished top of Group A with three wins from three while to clinch second spot.

South Korea must wait to learn their fate in the third-place table but Czech Republic are out.

Switzerland finished top of Group B in the final group game.

are in a strong position to progress as one of the best third-place finishers. Qatar have been knocked out.

Brazil and Morocco have progressed from Group C - Brazil will face Japan and Morocco will play Netherlands.

Scotland's hopes of progressing as one of the best third-place teams are now over.

Haiti were the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.

The United States became the second host nation to progress after beating Australia 2-0 in their second group game, sealing top spot.

to grab second place and a place in the last 32 but Paraguay are set to qualify as one of the third-placed teams.

Germany secured top spot and booked their place in the knockouts after two wins from two. This was unaffected by their shock 2-1 loss to Ecuador in the final group game, which sent the South American side through to the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams.

Ivory Coast secured second place after a 2-0 win over Curacao, who have been eliminated from the World Cup

Netherlands secured top spot with a 3-1 win over already-eliminated Tunisia.

Japan finish second in the group thanks to a 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Graham Potter's Sweden are guaranteed to qualify as a third-placed side as they have four points and 0 goal difference.

Belgium topped Group G on goal difference after their 5-1 thrashing of New Zealand, who exit the World Cup after finishing bottom of the group.

Egypt finished as runners-up after their 1-1 draw against Iran left the Asian side third in the group, with their hopes of reaching the last 32 in the balance as their tournament future rests on the outcomes of Groups J, K and L

Spain were confirmed as group winners after a 1-0 win against Uruguay in the final group games. That result confirmed Marcelo Bielsa's side shock exit as they cannot finish in the top eight third-place teams.

The story of the group though as Cape Verde's qualification as runners-up, setting up a blockbuster round of 32 tie with Argentina. They played out a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia, who finished bottom of Group H.

With both sides already through, France won the group by beating Norway.

France's opponents will be a third-placed team - the situation is fluid, but it will be Sweden as it stands. Norway will play Ivory Coast - with the winner facing Brazil or Japa in the last 16.

Senegal's big win over Iraq means they have qualified for the round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

Final group matches - Sunday June 28, 3pm
Algeria vs Austria - Kansas City, USA
Jordan vs Argentina -
Arlington, USA

Argentina are through as group winners due to their head-to-head record over Austria and Algeria. They have nothing to play for against already-eliminated Jordan.

Algeria and Austria have a showdown to see who finishes second in the group. It's winner-takes-all on that front, but a draw would favour Austria due to a superior goal difference.

Whoever loses that game would face a nervous wait to see if they finish as one of the best third-placed teams - as that team would have a negative goal difference.

Final group matches - Sunday June 28, 12.30am
Colombia vs Portugal - Miami, USA
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan - Atlanta, USA

Colombia and Portugal have a showdown in Miami to see who finishes as Group K winner. Colombia will win the group if they can avoid defeat.

DR Congo face Uzbekistan knowing a win would seal third with four points. That could be enough to see them finish as one of the best third-placed teams and reach the last 32.

Uzbekistan, who are not yet eliminated, could still sneak through with a win over DR Congo as one of the best third-placed teams, but they would need a big win to boost their goal difference.

Job done for England with the Three Lions progressing as group winners after a 2-0 win over Panama. who finished bottom and are the only team to have failed to score at the tournament.

They will be joined by Croatia in the last 32 after their win over Ghana. And Ghana are also likely to make it through to the knockout stages from third place.

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