MEXICO CITY — The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage continued on Wednesday with the Round of 32 moving into a key phase, as host nations Mexico and the United States entered the competition’s first single-elimination round after the expanded 48-team tournament completed its group stage.
Mexico faced Ecuador at Mexico City’s stadium, while the United States prepared to meet Bosnia and Herzegovina in the San Francisco Bay Area as both host nations began their knockout campaigns. The matches were part of a four-game schedule on July 1 that also included England against Congo DR and Belgium against Senegal.
The 2026 tournament is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, with the field divided into 12 groups during the opening phase. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place finishers advanced to the Round of 32, according to FIFA’s competition format.
The introduction of the Round of 32 has expanded the knockout stage and created an additional elimination round before the traditional Round of 16. All knockout matches are played as direct elimination fixtures, with winners advancing and losers exiting the tournament.
Host nation Mexico entered the knockout stage after its group campaign at home venues, while the United States reached the same stage with matches scheduled across the tournament’s North American host cities. FIFA is staging the competition across Canada, Mexico and the United States, with matches spread among 16 host cities.
Earlier Round of 32 matches included Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa on June 28, while Brazil, Germany and other teams were among the nations involved as the bracket began taking shape. The winners of the Round of 32 advance to the Round of 16, continuing the path toward the final scheduled for July 19.
FIFA’s published schedule lists the Round of 32 from June 28 through July 3, followed by the Round of 16 beginning on July 4. The tournament will continue with the remaining knockout fixtures as teams compete for places in the quarter-finals.
