sports
Thirty-Two Teams Advance as 2026 World Cup Enters Knockout Stage
The group stage ended with 32 nations moving to single-elimination play. Round of 32 matches began June 30 and continue through July 3 across nine U.S. and Canadian venues.
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The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded with 32 teams advancing to the round of 32. Twelve group winners, twelve runners-up and the eight best third-place teams progressed to single-elimination matches. Round of 32 fixtures opened June 30 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico faces Ecuador.
On July 1, England meets DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Belgium plays Senegal at Lumen Field in Seattle and the United States takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. July 2 features Spain versus Austria at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Switzerland against Algeria at Vancouver Stadium and Portugal versus Croatia at Toronto Stadium.
July 3 concludes the round with Australia facing Egypt at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Argentina playing Cabo Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Colombia taking on Ghana at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
CBS Sports reported that Canada defeated South Africa 1-0, Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1, France defeated Sweden 3-0, Brazil defeated Japan 2-1, Germany advanced past Paraguay 4-3 on penalties and the Netherlands progressed past Morocco 3-2 on penalties.
The same outlet stated that South Africa, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Ivory Coast and Sweden were eliminated in the round of 32, while Qatar, Panama, Tunisia, Turkiye, Haiti, Jordan, Czechia, Curacao, Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Scotland, Uzbekistan and Iran exited at the group stage.
Winners advance to eight round of 16 matches scheduled between July 4 and July 7 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Lumen Field in Seattle, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and BC Place in Vancouver.
CBS Sports reported the bracket pairs Canada against Morocco on July 4, Paraguay against France on July 4, Brazil against Norway on July 5, the winner of Mexico versus Ecuador against the winner of England versus DR Congo on July 5, the winner of Portugal versus Croatia against the winner of Spain versus Austria on July 6, the winner of United States versus Bosnia and Herzegovina against the winner of Belgium versus Senegal on July 6, the winner of Argentina versus Cabo Verde against the winner of Australia versus Egypt on July 7 and the winner of Switzerland versus Algeria against the winner of Colombia versus Ghana on July 7.
