World Cup 2026 Knockout Round matchups confirmed!

It’s been a hectic 17 days at the 2026 World Cup. We have seen 72 matches in the group stage, and the field of 48 teams has been reduced to 32. Now the teams that are still alive play knockout-round games to find out who will be crowned champions at North America 2026!

The FIFA World Cup is displayed during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Nathan Phillips Square.

Kevin Sousa

The final 32 nations at the 2026 World Cup

It’s a little weird that 66.7% of the nations make it out of the group stage at this expanded World Cup, but it does lead to more juicy matchups and win-or-go-home soccer! The 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and the top eight third-place finishers have all made it to this next phase. Here are the 32 teams that have made it to the knockout bracket!

1. Group E winner: Germany
2. Group D 3rd place: Paraguay

3. Group I winner: France
4. Group F 3rd place: Sweden

5. Group A runner-up: South Africa
6. Group B runner-up: Canada

7. Group F winner: Netherlands
8. Group C runner-up: Morocco

9. Group K runner-up: Portugal
10. Group L runner-up: Croatia

11. Group H winner: Spain
12. Group J runner-up: Austria

13. Group D winner: USA
14. Group B 3rd place: Bosnia & Herzegovina

15. Group G winner: Belgium
16. Group I 3rd place: Senegal

17. Group C winner: Brazil
18. Group F runner-up: Japan

19. Group E runner-up: Ivory Coast
20. Group I runner-up: Norway

21. Group A winner: Mexico
22. Group E 3rd place: Ecuador

23. Group L winner: England
24. Group K 3rd place: DR Congo

25. Group J winner: Argentina
26. Group H runner-up: Cape Verde

27. Group D runner-up: Australia
28. Group G runner-up: Egypt

29. Group B winner: Switzerland
30. Group J 3rd place: Algeria

31. Group K winner: Colombia
32. Group L 3rd place: Ghana

The chaos that led to these 32 teams making the knockout rounds was palpable. It came down to the final day to know the final third-place finishers, but history has been made at this tournament with its competitiveness so far. There were not too many poor games, and teams that were thought of as “happy to be here” showed up and were competitive. Some even made it to the knockout rounds!

With that came some major disappointments and heartbreak. Uruguay finished their World Cup campaign with two points, the worst third-place finish in the tournament. South Korea and Scotland both had three points, but negative goal differentials kept them from advancing. Iran could have had a VAR decision rob them of a spot in the final 32 in the chaos of the last moments of their final group game. The margin for error was so thin, but now, it’s time to focus on the teams that made it!

A replica of official Trionda match ball for FIFA World Cup 2026 is displayed ahead of the press conference

Issei Kato

Round of 32 Schedule

Adidas soccer balls with FIFA World Cup 2026 logo at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Kirby Lee

Let the madness of the World Cup knockout rounds begin!

The big favorites (Spain, France, England, Portugal) are all still alive; the living legends (Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez) are continuing their final World Cups, and the three co-hosts (Mexico, USA, and Canada) all made the cut to the final 32. Knockout soccer tends to bring out the best and worst of the sport. Stars take center stage, but so too does the pragmatism.

Because these are win-or-go-home matches, some teams sit back a bit more, trying not to concede. This can lead to games needing the two 15-minute periods of extra time added after the 90-minute game. If a goal isn’t scored there, a Penalty shootout decides who moves on to the next round. How many PK shootouts will we see as the heat and humidity of a North American summer affect these teams and players? We’ll have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure: we have to be ready for anything and everything now that we have reached the knockouts!