2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16: Schedule, Matchups, and Team Qualifications

The 2026 World Cup began with 48 teams, but after an intense Round of 32 filled with penalty shootouts, last-minute goals, and unexpected exits, only 16 teams remain. The tournament has seen co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States all knocked out, while traditional soccer giants like Argentina, Belgium, England, France, and Spain have advanced to the quarterfinals.

Round of 16 Schedule and Results

• Saturday, July 4: Morocco defeated Canada 3-0; France edged Paraguay 1-0. Next match: Morocco vs. France on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET in Boston.
• Sunday, July 5: Norway upset Brazil 2-1; England beat Mexico 3-2. Next match: Norway vs. England on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET in Miami.
• Monday, July 6: Spain won against Portugal 1-0; Belgium dominated USA 4-1. Next match: Spain vs. Belgium on Friday at 3 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.
• Tuesday, July 7: Egypt faces Argentina at noon ET in Atlanta; Switzerland plays Colombia at 4 p.m. ET in Vancouver.

Upcoming Quarterfinal Matches

• Thursday, July 9: France vs. Morocco, 4 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts.
• Friday, July 10: Spain vs. Belgium, 3 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium, California.
• Saturday, July 11: Norway vs. England, 5 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, Florida; Winner of Egypt/Argentina vs. Switzerland/Colombia at 9 p.m. ET in Kansas City.

Semifinals and Finals

• Tuesday, July 14: Semifinal featuring France/Morocco winner vs. winner of Spain/Belgium, 3 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium, Texas.
• Wednesday, July 15: Semifinal between winners of Norway/England and Egypt/Argentina or Switzerland/Colombia, 3 p.m. ET in Atlanta.
• Saturday, July 18: Third-place match at 5 p.m. ET in Miami Gardens.
• Sunday, July 19: Final match at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.

Round of 32 Recap

Several favorites were eliminated during the Round of 32 including Germany, Netherlands, and Japan. Matches featured tight battles, penalty shootouts, and surprising outcomes:

• Canada edged South Africa 1-0.
• Brazil beat Japan 2-1.
• Paraguay eliminated Germany via penalties (4-3) after a 1-1 draw.
• Morocco ousted the Netherlands on penalties (3-2) following a 1-1 draw.
• France convincingly won against Sweden 3-0.
• Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0.
• England overcame Congo DR 2-1.
• Belgium narrowly beat Senegal 3-2.
• USA won against Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0.
• Spain crushed Austria 3-0.
• Portugal edged Croatia 2-1.
• Switzerland won over Algeria 2-0.
• Egypt beat Australia on penalties (4-2) after a 1-1 draw.
• Argentina overcame Cape Verde 3-2.
• Colombia defeated Ghana 1-0.

Group Stage Summary and Qualifications

The top two from each of the 12 groups advanced automatically, along with the eight best third-place teams. Here’s how the groups ended:

Each group delivered intense competition, with some third-place teams advancing due to strong performances. Matches throughout the group stage set the tone for this knockout phase, where every match means elimination or progression.