Just a few days remain in group play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And the Round of 32 is getting filled in.
As of Friday morning 14 teams have booked a spot in the knockout round, and four of the 16 matches in the Round of 32 have been set. By the end of matches today more teams will have clinched a spot in the Round of 32, and by the end of the weekend the Round of 32 will be set.
And we can start thinking about potential matchups in the Round of 16.
Here is what we know about the Round of 32, and what we could see in the Round of 16.
2026 FIFA World Cup bracket
Let’s start with the bracket for the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Here, courtesy of USA Today, is the knockout round bracket:
Let’s work our way through the bracket as it stands, starting with the matches in the upper left.
Match 74: Germany vs. Paraguay
Match 74 will see the top team in Group E take on a third-place team from Group A, B, C, D, or F.
Germany has clinched Group E, and is waiting on a winner. For a look at the third-place standings, and what teams have clinched a spot in the Round of 32 as a third-place team, we have you covered here.
Update: Paraguay is now confirmed as Germany’s opponent.
Match 77: France vs. Sweden
The next match, as we work our way down the bracket, is Match 77.
Match 77 will feature the top team from Group I against a third-place team from Group C, D, F, G or H.
The top team from Group I will be either France or Norway, and that group winner will be determined when those two titans meet on Friday afternoon. For more on the third-place standings, we have you covered here.
Update: France’s 4-1 win over Norway has clinched Group I, and they will slot into Match 77. Sweden is now confirmed as the opponent.
Match 73: South Africa vs. Canada
The next match, as we work down the bracket, is our first completely set match in the Round of 32.
This match pits a pair of second-place teams, Canada from Group B, and South Africa from Group A.
Match 75: Netherlands vs. Morocco
The next match is set as well, and could be an instant classic.
On one side? The Netherlands, winners of Group F. On the other? Morocco, who finished second in Group C.
Match 83: TBD vs. Croatia
We move next to the lower-left quadrant of the bracket, and Match 83. That will feature the second-place team from Group K, and Croatia, which claimed second-place in Group L after beating Ghana.
The next match on the list is also yet to be set.
Match 84 will see the top team from Group H face the second-place team from Group J. Spain is in the driver’s seat in Group H, while Austria and Algeria are the likely options out of Group J.
Update: With their 1-0 win over Uruguay Friday night, Spain clinched the top spot in Group H.
Match 81: United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Match 81, however, is set.
The United States clinched a spot in the knockout round with a win over Australia in their second match of group play. As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, they became one of the first teams to advance to the Round of 32 as a third-place team late Wednesday night, and their spot against the USMNT was confirmed by FIFA on Thursday evening.
Match 82: Belgium vs. TBD
The last match on the left side of the bracket has yet to be determined.
The top team in Group G will face a third-place team from Group A, E, H, I, or J. As of publication, Egypt is in first place in Group G, but three teams in that group—Egypt, Iran, and Belgium—can still win the group.
For more on the third-place teams, you can see the standings here.
Update: Belgium has won Group G, and will take on a third-place team.
Match 76: Brazil vs. Japan
We now move to the right side of the bracket, working from the top to the bottom. In the upper-right quadrant we see a fascinating match in the Round of 32 between Brazil and Japan. Brazil advanced as the winners of Group C while Japan finished second in Group F.
Match 78: Ivory Coast vs. Norway
The next match in the Round of 32, Match 78, has one confirmed team. Ivory Coast advanced to the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group E. They will take on the second-place team from Group I, which will be either France or Norway.
Update: Norway has finished second in Group I, and will take on the Ivory Coast in this match.
Match 79 will see host team Mexico take on a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H, or I. That team has not been confirmed yet, but could be Scotland or Ecuador, depending on the various permutations.
Match 80: England vs. TBD
Match 80 will feature England against a third-place team from Group I or K. That team will be either Senegal or DR Congo pending Saturday’s results. Here is a look at the teams vying for a spot as a third-place finisher.
Match 86: Argentina vs. Cabo Verde
We now shift to the lower-right quadrant of the bracket, and Match 86. Argentina, having clinched Group J, is confirmed as one of the teams in this match. Lionel Messi and company will face the second-place team from Group H. For more on the Group H scenarios, we have you covered here.
Update: The Blue Sharks are through as the second-place team in Group H. Cabo Verde’s reward? A date with the defending World Cup champions.
Match 88: Australia vs. Egypt
One side of Match 88 is set, with Australia moving on to the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group D. They will face the second-place team from Group G. All four teams — Egypt, Iran, Belgium, and New Zealand — are potential opponents as of publication.
Update: Egypt has taken second place in Group G, and will play Australia in Match 88.
Match 85: Switzerland vs. TBD
Switzerland advanced to the Round of 32 as the winners of Group B, and will take on a third-place team from Group E, F, G, I, or J.
The final match in the Round of 32, in the bottom-right of the bracket, will feature the winners of Group K against third-place Ghana. Colombia and Portugal are vying for the top spot in Group K, and will meet on Saturday in the final match of Group K play.
Potential Round of 16 games
Let’s work through some scenarios for the Round of 16 games, again starting in the upper-left quadrant of the bracket.
Match 89 will feature the winner of Match 74 against the winner of Match 77. Germany is confirmed to play a third-place team from Group A, B, C, D, or F in Match 74, while the two teams in Match 77 are yet to be set. Match 77 will feature the top team from Group I against a third-place team from Group C, D, F, G or H.
Match 90 will see the winners of Match 73 play the winners of Match 75. Match 73 is set, with South Africa matched up with Canada. The winner of that game will play the winner of Match 75 between Netherlands and Morocco.
Moving now to the bottom-left quadrant, Match 93 will feature the winners of Match 83 against the winners of Match 84. Match 83 will feature the second-place team from Group K, and Croatia from Group L.
Match 84 will see the winners of Group H play the second-place team from Group J.
Update: Spain clinched the top spot in Group H, and will now be featured in Match 84.
As for the last match on the left side of the bracket in the Round of 16, Match 94 will see the winners of Match 81 play the winners of Match 82. Match 81 is set, with the United States playing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Match 82 will see the top team in Group G against a third-place team from Group A, E, H, I, or J. As of publication, Egypt is in first place in Group G, but three teams in that group — Egypt, Iran, and Belgium — can still win the group.
So yes, there is a world where the United States plays Iran in the Round of 16. Start your thinkpieces … now.
Moving to the right side of the bracket, and working from the top down, Match 91 will see the winners from Match 76 play the winners of Match 78. Brazil plays Japan in Match 76, while Match 78 will see the Ivory Coast take on the second-place team from Group I, which will be France or Norway.
The next match in the Round of 16 will see the winners of Match 79 play the winners of Match 80. In Match 79 Mexico will play a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H, or I. Match 80 will feature Group L winner England against a third-place team from Group I or K. Here is a look at the teams vying for a spot as a third-place finisher.
Moving to the bottom-right quadrant, Match 95 will see the winners of Match 86 play the winners of Match 88. Match 86 will see Lionel Messi and company against the second-place team from Group H. Match 88 will see Australia play the second-place team from Group G where all four teams — Egypt, Iran, Belgium, and New Zealand — are in the running.
Update: Cabo Verde clinched the second spot in Group H, and will take on Argentina in Match 86.
We close out the Round of 16 with Match 86, pitting the winners of Match 85 against the winners of Match 87. Switzerland will take on a third-place team from Group E, F, G, I, or J in Match 85. Match 87 will feature the winners of Group K against Ghana. Colombia and Portugal are vying for the top spot in Group K, and will meet on Saturday in the final match of Group K play.
Just a few days remain in group play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.And the…
