The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end on Sunday, setting the stage for the first ever Round of 32 in the tournament’s history.
FIFA expanded the competition from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, introducing an extra knockout round before the traditional Round of 16. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups qualified automatically, alongside the eight best third-placed finishers to complete the 32-team bracket.
One of the biggest stories of the group phase was the remarkable run of tournament debutants Cabo Verde. The African nation reached the knockout stage without winning a match, becoming the first team since Chile in 1998 to qualify with three group-stage draws.
Cabo Verde held Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia and will now face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a historic Round of 32 clash.
Elsewhere, Egypt booked a place in the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history, while DR Congo advanced to the last 32 after beating Uzbekistan in their final group match.
Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, finished second in Group K following a goalless draw with Colombia, while Croatia claimed second place in Group L with victory over Ghana behind group winners England.
Uruguay’s early exit was among the biggest surprises of the group stage as the South Americans failed to reach the knockout rounds.
The winners of the Round of 32 ties will progress to the Round of 16 before the competition continues in a straight knockout format through the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 Schedule (Kick-off time in WAT)
| Date | Match | Kick-off (WAT) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 29 | South Africa vs Canada | 7:30pm | Los Angeles |
| June 30 | Brazil vs Japan | 5:30pm | Houston |
| June 30 | Germany vs Paraguay | 9:00pm | Foxborough |
| July 1 | Netherlands vs Morocco | 1:30am | Guadalajara |
| July 1 | Côte d’Ivoire vs Norway | 5:30pm | Arlington |
| July 1 | France vs Sweden | 9:30pm | New Jersey |
| July 2 | Mexico vs Ecuador | 1:30am | Mexico City |
| July 2 | England vs DR Congo | 4:30pm | Atlanta |
| July 2 | Belgium vs Senegal | 8:30pm | Seattle |
| July 3 | United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 12:30am | Santa Clara |
| July 3 | Spain vs Austria | 7:30pm | Los Angeles |
| July 3 | Portugal vs Croatia | 11:30pm | Toronto |
| July 4 | Switzerland vs Algeria | 3:30am | Vancouver |
| July 4 | Australia vs Egypt | 6:30pm | Arlington |
| July 4 | Argentina vs Cabo Verde | 10:30pm | Miami |
| July 5 | Colombia vs Ghana | 2:00am | Kansas City |
Be First to Comment