The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially entered the knockout stage after the completion of an exciting group phase, with the full Round of 32 fixtures, dates and venues now confirmed.
The 2026 edition is the largest in the tournament's history, featuring 48 participating nations and 104 matches. Since kicking off on June 11, 2026, the competition has produced thrilling encounters, unexpected upsets and impressive performances from several teams.
Jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament is also the first FIFA World Cup to be staged across three countries, attracting millions of football fans to stadiums throughout North America.
With the group stage now over, the tournament moves into the knockout rounds, where every match is a do-or-die affair. According to DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS, teams that win their Round of 32 fixtures will advance to the Round of 16, while defeated sides will be eliminated from the competition.
The Round of 16 is scheduled to begin on July 4, while the tournament will conclude with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Some of the standout fixtures in the Round of 32 include Brazil against Japan, the Netherlands taking on Morocco, Portugal facing Croatia, Belgium meeting Senegal, and France clashing with Sweden.
The complete fixtures were released on Sunday through FIFA's official website.
African nations have made a strong impression at this year's tournament, with nine of the ten teams representing the continent progressing to the knockout stage. South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Cape Verde and Ghana all secured places in the last 32.
Confirmed Round of 32 Fixtures
South Africa vs Canada — June 28, Los Angeles Stadium
Brazil vs Japan — June 29, Houston Stadium
Germany vs Paraguay — June 29, Boston Stadium
Netherlands vs Morocco — June 29, Estadio Monterrey
Ivory Coast vs Norway — June 30, Dallas Stadium
France vs Sweden — June 30, New York New Jersey Stadium
Mexico vs Ecuador — June 30, Mexico City Stadium
England vs DR Congo — July 1, Atlanta Stadium
Belgium vs Senegal — July 1, Seattle Stadium
United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — July 1, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Spain vs Austria — July 2, Los Angeles Stadium
Portugal vs Croatia — July 2, Toronto Stadium
Switzerland vs Algeria — July 2, BC Place, Vancouver
Australia vs Egypt — July 3, Dallas Stadium
Argentina vs Cape Verde — July 3, Miami Stadium
Colombia vs Ghana — July 3, Kansas City Stadium
With qualification for the Round of 16 on the line and the race for football's biggest prize gathering momentum, fans can expect intense competition as the remaining teams continue their quest to become FIFA World Cup 2026 champions.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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