FIFA World Cup Round of 32 set to begin with South Africa vs Canada; check full knockout stage schedule, surprise entries and how to watch live streaming in US and Canada
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage has concluded, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds. Powerhouses like Argentina, France, and Mexico dominated, while debutant Cape Verde and DR Congo surprised many. The Round of 32 kicks off with Sout...
By Divyadeep Singh, Global Desk |
Agencies
FIFA World Cup 2026: Seventy-two games played and 12 teams eliminated as the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the largest edition of the global showpiece event featuring 48 competing nations, concludes, paving the way for the all-important knockout stage, which will feature 32 teams with 16 matchups to take center stage. The round of 32 will include 13 teams from Europe, five from South America, and two from Asia.
The only three North American teams moving on are the co-hosts: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The most notable team that failed to advance was Uruguay, who were No. 16 in the FIFA rankings entering the tournament. Only three sides won all three of their group-stage matches: Argentina, France, and Mexico.
Round of 32 Match 1: South Africa vs Canada
As the Round of 32 kicks off on Sunday, June 28, Canada and South Africa will lock horns at Los Angeles Stadium, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One. Canada advanced to this stage after finishing second in Group B, while South Africa secured their spot by placing second in Group A.
Round of 32 Match 1: Teams that shocked soccer fans
Besides the pre-tournament favorites such as France, Spain, England, and Argentina, a few unexpected teams have also made it to the Round of 32, stunning soccer fans with their remarkable runs.
One of them is World Cup debutant Cape Verde, who, in their first-ever World Cup appearance, drew all three of their group-stage matches to advance. The Democratic Republic of the Congo also advanced to the next round, getting through the group stage for the first time in their second World Cup. The other time the Leopards were in the event, they played as Zaire in 1974.
Cape Verde's reward is a round of 32 matchup with the defending champions, Argentina, on Friday (July 3, 2026) in Miami Gardens, Florida. DR Congo will square off with England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The strong showing by Cape Verde, the third-smallest country ever to compete at the World Cup, is part of a larger success story for African nations. Nine of the continent's 10 representatives advanced to the knockout stage.
Austria scored a last-minute equalizer against Algeria on Saturday, and that tally dropped Algeria into the eighth and final qualifying third-place slot and eliminated Team Melli.
The most eye-catching round of 32 match might be the Netherlands vs. Morocco on Monday in Guadalupe, Mexico. The Dutch scored 10 goals while finishing 2-0-1 in Group F, drawing with Japan before beating Sweden and Tunisia. The Atlas Lions, who reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, went 2-0-1 in Group C, playing to a tie with Brazil and then downing Scotland and Haiti.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule
How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live in US
How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live in Canada
FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 16
The round of 16 runs July 4-7, with the quarterfinals scheduled for July 9-11. The first semifinal is scheduled for July 14 in Arlington, with the second to be played the following day in Atlanta. The third-place match will be held in Miami Gardens on July 18 ahead of the final on July 19 in East Rutherford.
The only three North American teams moving on are the co-hosts: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The most notable team that failed to advance was Uruguay, who were No. 16 in the FIFA rankings entering the tournament. Only three sides won all three of their group-stage matches: Argentina, France, and Mexico.
Round of 32 Match 1: South Africa vs Canada
As the Round of 32 kicks off on Sunday, June 28, Canada and South Africa will lock horns at Los Angeles Stadium, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One. Canada advanced to this stage after finishing second in Group B, while South Africa secured their spot by placing second in Group A.
Round of 32 Match 1: Teams that shocked soccer fans
Besides the pre-tournament favorites such as France, Spain, England, and Argentina, a few unexpected teams have also made it to the Round of 32, stunning soccer fans with their remarkable runs.
One of them is World Cup debutant Cape Verde, who, in their first-ever World Cup appearance, drew all three of their group-stage matches to advance. The Democratic Republic of the Congo also advanced to the next round, getting through the group stage for the first time in their second World Cup. The other time the Leopards were in the event, they played as Zaire in 1974.
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Cape Verde's reward is a round of 32 matchup with the defending champions, Argentina, on Friday (July 3, 2026) in Miami Gardens, Florida. DR Congo will square off with England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The strong showing by Cape Verde, the third-smallest country ever to compete at the World Cup, is part of a larger success story for African nations. Nine of the continent's 10 representatives advanced to the knockout stage.
Austria scored a last-minute equalizer against Algeria on Saturday, and that tally dropped Algeria into the eighth and final qualifying third-place slot and eliminated Team Melli.
The most eye-catching round of 32 match might be the Netherlands vs. Morocco on Monday in Guadalupe, Mexico. The Dutch scored 10 goals while finishing 2-0-1 in Group F, drawing with Japan before beating Sweden and Tunisia. The Atlas Lions, who reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, went 2-0-1 in Group C, playing to a tie with Brazil and then downing Scotland and Haiti.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule
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- Sunday: South Africa vs. Canada in Inglewood, California.
- Monday: Brazil vs. Japan in Houston: Germany vs. Paraguay in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Netherlands vs. Morocco in Guadalupe, Mexico
- Tuesday: Ivory Coast vs. Norway in Arlington, Texas, France vs. Sweden in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Mexico vs. Ecuador in Mexico City.
- Wednesday: England vs. DR Congo in Atlanta, Belgium vs. Senegal in Seattle, United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California.
- Thursday: Spain vs. Austria in Inglewood, California, Portugal vs. Croatia in Toronto, Switzerland vs. Algeria in Vancouver.
- Friday: Australia vs. Egypt in Arlington, Texas, Argentina vs. Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Florida, Colombia vs. Ghana in Kansas City, Missouri.
How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live in US
- Channels: FOX, Fox Sports 1, Telemundo, Universo, Fubo, YT TV and Hulu
- Streaming: Fox One, Peacock, DirecTV, Fubo
How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live in Canada
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- Channels/Streaming: TSN, CTV, and RDS
FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 16
The round of 16 runs July 4-7, with the quarterfinals scheduled for July 9-11. The first semifinal is scheduled for July 14 in Arlington, with the second to be played the following day in Atlanta. The third-place match will be held in Miami Gardens on July 18 ahead of the final on July 19 in East Rutherford.
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