MIAMI — The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 was finalized on Friday after a dramatic conclusion to the inaugural Round of 32, setting up several high-profile knockout ties as the tournament enters its next phase.
The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, now moves into its second knockout round with eight matches scheduled from July 4 through July 7. Among the headline fixtures are Portugal against Spain, Mexico hosting England, and the United States meeting Belgium, while defending contenders France will face Paraguay.
The complete Round of 16 lineup features Canada versus Morocco, France versus Paraguay, Brazil versus Norway, Mexico versus England, Portugal versus Spain, the United States versus Belgium, Argentina versus Egypt, and Switzerland versus Colombia. Winners will advance to the quarterfinals beginning July 9.
Several Round of 32 results reshaped the tournament bracket with notable upsets. Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while Morocco knocked out the Netherlands in another shootout. Egypt also progressed via penalties against Australia, ending the hopes of another higher-ranked opponent. Colombia completed the final Round of 16 field with a 1-0 victory over Ghana, while Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 and Spain defeated Austria 3-0 to set up an all-Iberian clash.
Brazil advanced with a 2-1 victory over Japan, England defeated DR Congo 2-1, Belgium overcame Senegal 3-2, and the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. Canada, one of the tournament's co-hosts, reached the Round of 16 by defeating South Africa, while Argentina secured its place with a 2-0 win over Cape Verde.
The knockout bracket also keeps alive the possibility of a meeting between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal only if both nations continue advancing to the final, after Portugal's path shifted to the opposite side of the bracket.
Round of 16 action begins on Saturday with Canada facing Morocco in Houston and France taking on Paraguay in Philadelphia. Sunday's schedule features Brazil against Norway and Mexico against England, followed on Monday by Portugal versus Spain in Dallas and the United States against Belgium in Seattle. Argentina will meet Egypt and Switzerland will face Colombia on Tuesday to complete the round.
