The 2026 World Cup knockout stage reaches a turning point. The round of 32 wraps up on Friday 3 July with Argentina, Colombia and Australia in action, before the round of 16 opens on Saturday 4 July with Paraguay against France. Co-hosts Mexico have won a World Cup knockout tie for the first time since 1986 by beating Ecuador 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca, Spain routed Austria 3-0, and Brazil are set to meet Norway and Erling Haaland. Five verified stories.
The round of 16 begins on Saturday 4 July, with Paraguay facing France in the opening tie, Sports Illustrated and Sky Sports reported. Confirmed pairings include Canada against Morocco, the United States against Belgium, Brazil against Norway and Mexico against England. The last 16 runs through Tuesday 7 July across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Co-hosts Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca on 1 July to reach the round of 16 and win a World Cup knockout tie for the first time since 1986, Al Jazeera and ESPN reported. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Raúl Jiménez added a second, while 17-year-old Gilberto Mora started for the hosts. The match was delayed by about an hour because of a storm, and Mexico next face England.
The round of 32 concludes on Friday 3 July with three ties, according to NBC Sports and Yahoo Sports. Holders Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, meet World Cup debutants Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Australia face Egypt at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and Colombia take on Ghana. The winners complete the round of 16 bracket.
Five-time champions Brazil are set to face Norway and striker Erling Haaland in the round of 16, a tie Yahoo Sports and FOX Sports flagged as one of the round's most compelling. Brazil, 2-1 winners over Japan, come up against a Norway side leaning on Haaland's finishing, setting up a contest between the Brazilian attack and one of the tournament's most feared forwards.
Spain beat Austria 3-0 in the round of 32 to reach the round of 16, Yahoo Sports reported. Spain now await the winner of Portugal against Croatia as the knockout bracket continues to take shape.