What to Know as World Cup Knockout Round Begins

The preliminary parties have finally come to an end, and a final bracket has been set for the single-game elimination bout to claim the World Cup.

Forty-eight national teams from around the world were split into 12 groups for a preliminary round-robin competition to battle for their place in a 32-spot elimination bout and only five consecutive wins from glory.

The surviving 32 include all three host nations, the last World Cup’s defending champions, legacy favorites from Europe and South America, and nine of the 10 qualifying African nations.

The first match of this round was played on June 28, and the rest are scheduled for this week.

Here is a look at those matchups in chronological order.

June 28:

3 p.m. ET—Canada Versus South Africa in Los Angeles

Canada beat South Africa 1–0, and became the first team to advance to the round of 16.

This was the first time either team had made it out of the group stage, and it was the first time both teams faced off in World Cup competition. Canada and South Africa met only once before in a 2007 friendly. South Africa won that match 2–0.

The winner will face either the Netherlands or Morocco next.

June 29:

1 p.m.—Brazil Versus Japan in Houston

Brazil and Japan face off for the first time in the World Cup since Germany 2006. Brazil defeated the Blue Samurai 4–1 in the group stage, which makes this match the first time the teams have faced each other in the single-game elimination phase.

Japan won its latest match with Brazil, though, winning 3–2 in a friendly held on home soil in October 2025. But Brazil stands as the favorite to win the match.

Brazil and Japan have a record of scoring the same number of goals per game, but Japan has been known to concede more goals, suggesting a deficiency in defense compared with its opponents.

4:30 p.m.—Germany Versus Paraguay in Boston

Germany arrives in the elimination round as the winner of its group to face third-place finisher Paraguay.

The past five appearances before and during this World Cup have shown the Germans to be a scoring powerhouse, logging an average 3.3 goals per game compared with Paraguay’s 0.7 per game. On paper, the Germans also appear superior in ball possession and creating scoring opportunities.

9 p.m.—The Netherlands Versus Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico

This game will decide who gets to play Canada in the round of 16.

The Dutch have been called the greatest soccer team to have never won a World Cup, and their Orange Army has watched them tie Japan 2–2, and then beat Sweden 5–1 and Tunisia 3–1 to win the group.

Meanwhile, Morocco returned to the World Cup after reaching the quarterfinals four years ago, making it out of the group stage on a 1–1 draw with Brazil and wins against Scotland (1–0) and Haiti (4–2).

June 30:

1 p.m.—Ivory Coast Versus Norway in Dallas

The third African team to play elimination soccer will face Norway for the first time in World Cup elimination play.

With Erling Haaland leading the way, Norway makes its first return to the elimination round since 1998, when its “Red, White, and Blue” made it to the round of 16.

Meanwhile, the Elephants of the Ivory Coast return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, when they fell short of qualifying for the round of 16.

5 p.m.—France Versus Sweden in New York/New Jersey

After Norway, another Scandinavian team will take the pitch, and will face off against former World Cup champions.

Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé lead France out of a high-scoring group stage rout—which included a 4–1 win over Norway—to face Sweden.

Les Bleus have qualified for 17 straight World Cups, winning twice in 1998 and 2018. They are heavily favored to beat Sweden, which is appearing in its first World Cup since 2018.

9 p.m.—Mexico Versus Ecuador in Mexico City

A dominating force will face off against a group of comeback kids in the heart of Mexican soccer.

After losing 1–0 to the Ivory Coast and tying Cape Verde, a desperate Ecuador stayed alive by beating Germany 2–1. But it goes on to face Mexico, which was one of only three teams to win all three group stage games.

Mexico has also never lost a World Cup match played in Mexico City.

July 1:

12 p.m.—England Versus Congo

England emerges from a rather lackluster group stage performance to take on a team whose performance has turned several heads.

Congo opened its World Cup campaign by holding Portugal to a 1–1 draw, and preventing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from getting a single goal.

The Three Lions, meanwhile, started off with its superstar Harry Kane getting two in a 4–2 win over Croatia.

4 p.m.—Belgium Versus Senegal in Seattle

Belgium makes it out of the group stage for the first time since 2018, and is looking to go farther than it did that year (third place).

The Belgians face off against Senegal, which made it to the round of 16 in 2022. On paper, both teams appeared to be almost equally matched, with Belgium emerging as a slight favorite to win. Both teams emerged from the group stage by putting up five goals each in their third and final game.

8 p.m.—Team USA Versus Bosnia-Herzegovina in San Francisco

Team USA survives World Cup group stage play once again, but this time, it won its group winning back-to-back games for the first time ever.

The starting 11 of the Stars and Stripes, including Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Weston McKennie, will face off against a Bosnian team that held Canada to a 1–1 draw and sent Qatar home through a 3–1 victory. Team USA is favored to win.

July 2:

3 p.m.—Spain Versus Austria in Los Angeles

Austria continues its first World Cup appearance since 1998, but it will come up against the current European champions.

Spain returns to World Cup elimination play after tying Cape Verde, beating Saudi Arabia 4–0, and beating Uruguay 1–0. Austria, meanwhile, suffered a 2–0 loss against Argentina and tied Algeria, with its only win coming against the now-eliminated Jordan.

7 p.m.—Portugal Versus Croatia in Toronto

Croatia emerged from the group stage with more points than Portugal, earning two wins to its opponent’s one win and two draws. However, Portugal remains favored going into the match as Ronaldo makes his sixth attempt to claim World Cup glory.

11 p.m.—Switzerland Versus Algeria in Vancouver

The Swiss national team continues its sixth straight World Cup appearance with a match against Algeria.

The Swiss won their group stage, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 4–1 and host team Canada 2–1 while Algeria managed to beat now-eliminated Jordan 2–1. Algeria lost to Argentina 3–0 and tied Austria 3–3.

July 3:

2 p.m.—Australia Versus Egypt in Dallas

The Socceroos face off against Egypt as the slight underdogs of the match. On paper, Egypt has better scoring, shooting, and proven ability to create opportunities. Australia emerged from group play with one win, one draw, and a loss to the United States. Egypt remains unbeaten, tying Belgium and Iran and beating New Zealand 3–1.

6 p.m.—Argentina Versus Cape Verde

The Cinderella story for Cape Verde continues, as the debutant and record-smallest nation to ever make it out of the group stage survives on holding Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia all to a draw.

However, the Blue Sharks now face off against Argentina—the defending World Cup champions, one of only three teams to win all three group stage matches, and the team with all-time World Cup goal scorer Lionel Messi.

9:30 p.m.—Colombia Versus Ghana in Kansas City, Missouri

The last game of the first elimination round comes down to Colombia versus Ghana. Colombia emerges as the favorite, having beaten Uzbekistan and Congo and holding off Portugal to a 0–0 draw. However, its West African opponents put on an eye-catching performance, beating Panama 1–0 and holding England to a 0–0 draw.