Round of 32 set: Full Knockout Schedule and Matchups
The group stage is over, and now the FIFA World Cup enters the knockout phase. With the expanded 48-team format introduced for the 2026 tournament, the Round of 32 has been added for the first time, marking the beginning of the single-elimination stage on the road to the title.
Under the new format, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups advanced automatically to the Round of 32, joined by the eight best third-placed teams, making up a total of 32 teams. From this stage onward, every match is win-or-go-home: lose once, and the tournament is over; win, and a place in the Round of 16 is secured.
The Round of 32 will be played from June 28 to July 3 (local time). In Bangladesh Standard Time (BST), matches will begin on June 29 and conclude on July 4.
Round of 32 Schedule (Bangladesh Time)
Date Time Match
June 29 1:00 AM South Africa vs Canada
June 29 11:00 PM Brazil vs Japan
June 30 2:30 AM Germany vs Paraguay
June 30 7:00 AM Netherlands vs Morocco
June 30 11:00 PM Ivory Coast vs Norway
July 1 3:00 AM France vs Sweden
July 1 7:00 AM Mexico vs Ecuador
July 1 10:00 PM England vs DR Congo
July 2 2:00 AM Belgium vs Senegal
July 2 6:00 AM United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
July 3 1:00 AM Spain vs Austria
July 3 5:00 AM Portugal vs Croatia
July 3 9:00 AM Switzerland vs Algeria
July 4 12:00 AM Australia vs Egypt
July 4 4:00 AM Argentina vs Cape Verde
July 4 7:30 AM Colombia vs Ghana
Key Matchups to Watch
One of the most anticipated ties is Brazil vs Japan. Japan has repeatedly shown in recent years that it can challenge football's traditional powerhouses, meaning Brazil will face no easy task.
Meanwhile, Argentina takes on Cape Verde, whose remarkable World Cup debut has already made history after reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
Portugal faces a stern test against Croatia. After finishing as runners-up in their group, Cristiano Ronaldo's side must overcome Luka Modrić's experienced Croatian team.
Spain will meet Austria, who secured a place in the Round of 32 after finishing as group runners-up following a dramatic 3-3 draw with Algeria.
Elsewhere, England faces DR Congo, who returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and reached the knockout stage after claiming their first-ever World Cup victory. France will play Sweden, Germany takes on Paraguay, and the Netherlands faces Morocco.
How the Round of 32 Work
From this stage onward, every match is a single-elimination knockout contest.
If the score is level after 90 minutes, the match will proceed to 30 minutes of extra time, split into two 15-minute halves. If the teams remain tied after extra time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The winners will advance to the Round of 16, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final.
With the group stage now behind them, every mistake could prove fatal. Under the expanded 2026 World Cup format, the Round of 32 represents the first major knockout hurdle—where the favorites begin their quest for the trophy and the underdogs have a chance to make history.