The 2026 World Cup reaches its first knockout day. On Sunday 28 June, South Africa meet Canada at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (Los Angeles), the single round of 32 fixture that opens the expanded knockout phase, kicking off at 3pm ET. It comes a day after the group stage finished on Saturday 27 June, when England beat Panama 2-0 to top Group L and Croatia beat Ghana 2-1. From 29 June the round of 32 runs three matches a day through 3 July, starting with Brazil against Japan in Houston, Germany against Paraguay in Boston and the Netherlands against Morocco in Guadalajara. Six verified stories.
Day eighteen on 28 June opens the round of 32, the first knockout stage of the expanded 48-team World Cup. South Africa face Canada at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the only fixture of the opening day, before the round expands to three matches a day from 29 June.
South Africa, who advanced as Group A runners-up, meet Canada, the Group B runners-up, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on 28 June, kicking off at 3pm ET (12pm PT). It is the single round of 32 fixture of the opening knockout day, and neither nation has previously won a World Cup knockout match.
The group stage finished on 27 June. England beat Panama 2-0 to win Group L and Croatia beat Ghana 2-1, completing the field of 32 qualifiers. The 12 group winners, 12 runners-up and 8 best third-placed teams advance to the knockout phase.
For the first time the World Cup has a round of 32 as its first knockout stage. The 12 group winners, 12 runners-up and 8 best third-placed teams advance. The round runs from 28 June through 3 July, with a single match on the opening day and three matches a day thereafter.
From 29 June the round of 32 moves to three matches a day. Brazil face Japan in Houston, Germany meet Paraguay in Boston and the Netherlands play Morocco in Guadalajara, Mexico, as the knockout bracket fills out toward the round of 16.
Among the hosts, the United States won Group D to reach the round of 32, while Mexico are set to play their knockout opener on 1 July in Mexico City. Holders Argentina are scheduled to face Cape Verde in Miami on 3 July as the bracket takes shape.