The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its knockout stage, with the Round of 16 set to begin on Saturday, July 4.
Forty-eight teams started the tournament, but only 16 remain after a dramatic Round of 32 that featured penalty shootouts, late winners and several major exits.
Germany, the Netherlands and Japan were among the teams knocked out as the race for the World Cup trophy entered its decisive phase.
Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States are all still in the competition, along with traditional football powers Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Portugal and Spain.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups had advanced automatically to the knockout phase, along with the eight best third-place finishers. From this stage onward, every match is a win-or-go-home contest, with the winners moving into the quarterfinals.
Teams Qualified for the Round of 16
| Team | Qualification Result |
|---|---|
| Canada | Defeated South Africa 1-0 |
| Brazil | Defeated Japan 2-1 |
| Paraguay | Defeated Germany 4-3 on penalties |
| Morocco | Defeated the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties |
| Norway | Defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 |
| France | Defeated Sweden 3-0 |
| Mexico | Defeated Ecuador 2-0 |
| England | Defeated DR Congo 2-1 |
| Belgium | Defeated Senegal 3-2 |
| USA | Defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 |
| Spain | Defeated Austria 3-0 |
| Portugal | Defeated Croatia 2-1 |
| Switzerland | Defeated Algeria 2-0 |
| Egypt | Defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties |
| Argentina | Defeated Cape Verde 3-2 |
| Colombia | Defeated Ghana 1-0 |
Canada will open the Round of 16 against Morocco at Houston Stadium on Saturday, followed by Paraguay’s clash with France at Philadelphia Stadium.
Brazil will face Norway on Sunday at New York/New Jersey Stadium, while Mexico will take on England at Mexico City Stadium.
On Monday, Portugal and Spain will meet in one of the biggest fixtures of the round at Dallas Stadium, with the USA facing Belgium at Seattle Stadium later the same day.
The round will conclude on Tuesday, when Argentina play Egypt at Atlanta Stadium and Switzerland face Colombia at BC Place Vancouver.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Schedule
| Match | Date | Day | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Morocco | July 4 | Saturday | Houston Stadium |
| Paraguay vs France | July 4 | Saturday | Philadelphia Stadium |
| Brazil vs Norway | July 5 | Sunday | New York/New Jersey Stadium |
| Mexico vs England | July 5 | Sunday | Mexico City Stadium |
| Portugal vs Spain | July 6 | Monday | Dallas Stadium |
| USA vs Belgium | July 6 | Monday | Seattle Stadium |
| Argentina vs Egypt | July 7 | Tuesday | Atlanta Stadium |
| Switzerland vs Colombia | July 7 | Tuesday | BC Place Vancouver |
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest sports news, match updates, and player stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
