Round of 32 matchups set as World Cup group stage draws to a close
Eight teams remain in contention for the final four spots in the World Cup round of 32, while co-hosts United States, Canada and Mexico have already qualified.
With the final day of group play underway, eight teams are still competing for the last four places in the World Cup round of 32. Scotland's elimination leaves the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Norway and several others already through to the knockout stage.
The United States will meet Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara, while Canada faces South Africa in Southern California on June 28. Other scheduled round-of-32 fixtures include Morocco versus the Netherlands, Japan versus Brazil, Norway versus Ivory Coast, France versus Sweden, Germany versus Paraguay, Australia versus Egypt, Argentina versus Cape Verde, and Mexico versus Ecuador.
The eight best third-place finishers will also advance, with ties broken by goal difference and goals scored if necessary.
"We play every game like a knockout game," U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said after the team's loss to Turkey.
Brazil, the five-time champion, will open its campaign against Japan, the Group F runner-up. The Netherlands, group winners, will face Morocco, the unbeaten second-place team from Group C. France, the tournament favorite after winning all three group matches, will take on Sweden. Germany, having already secured its group, will meet Paraguay.
Canada and South Africa are both making their first World Cup knockout appearances. Mexico, unbeaten in the group stage and conceding only one goal, will host Ecuador at the high-altitude Estadio Azteca.
Argentina, the defending champion, will play Cape Verde, the smallest nation to reach the knockout round.
