Projected Round of 32 Matchups Set for 2026 World Cup

The knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup will commence on Sunday, June 28, expanding the elimination round to 32 teams for the first time in tournament history. With a single round of group matches remaining, most of the round-of-32 pairings are already known.

On June 28, Canada (second in Group A) will face South Africa (second in Group B). The following day, Brazil, winners of Group C, will meet Japan, runners-up of Group F, while Germany, top of Group E, will play Paraguay, third in Group D. The Netherlands, leaders of Group F, will take on Morocco, second in Group C.

June 30 sees Ivory Coast, second in Group E, against Norway, second in Group I; France, first in Group I, versus Sweden, third in Group C; and Mexico, first in Group A, against Ecuador, third in Group E.

On July 1, England, winners of Group L, will meet the Democratic Republic of Congo, who topped Uzbekistan in the final group match. Belgium, first in Group G, will play Senegal, third in Group I. The United States, leaders of Group D, will face Bosnia and Herzegovina, third in Group B.

July 2 includes a match between the Group H winner, Spain, and the Group J runner-up, Austria, pending the outcome of Austria’s game against Algeria. Portugal, second in Group K after a draw with group-winner Colombia, will meet Croatia, second in Group L following a win over Ghana. Another fixture will pit Group A champion Switzerland against the third-place team from Group G, currently Iran, though that slot could change based on Saturday’s results.

The final day of the preliminary knockout schedule, July 3, features Egypt, second in Group G, versus Australia, second in Group D; Argentina, first in Group J, against Cape Verde, second in Group H; and Colombia, Group K winners, against Ghana, third in Group L after a loss to Croatia.

These projected matchups are based on the current group standings, and some pairings remain unofficial pending the last round of group-stage results.