The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 is complete and the full last-16 bracket is set. Sixteen nations will contest eight knockout matches across four days from Friday July 4, with the quarter-finals to follow for whoever survives.
Here is the complete Round of 16 fixture list; all eight matchups confirmed, with kick-off times, venues and what is at stake in each tie.
ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES: ALL EIGHT CONFIRMED
Canada vs Morocco
Friday July 4 | 18:00 GMT | 19:00 WAT
Canada beat South Africa 1-0 in the Round of 32 to reach the last 16 in their historic first World Cup knockout campaign. Morocco produced one of the moments of the tournament, eliminating the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The winner advances to the quarter-finals either France or Paraguay.
Paraguay vs France
Friday July 4 | 22:00 GMT | 23:00 WAT
France were the dominant force of the group stage, scoring ten goals, just two conceded, and demolished Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32.
Paraguay caused one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history by eliminating Germany on penalties after finishing second in their group. On paper the widest quality gap in the Round of 16, but Paraguay have already proved they can defy expectations.
Brazil vs Norway
Sunday July 5 | 21:00 GMT | 22:00 WAT
The standout fixture of the Round of 16. Brazil beat Japan 2-1 and continue to be driven by Vinicius Junior’s Golden Boot form. Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 with Erling Haaland returning refreshed after being rested for their final group game.
Two of the tournament’s most feared strikers go head-to-head in what promises to be the match of the knockout stage.
Mexico vs England
Monday July 6 | 01:00 GMT | 02:00 WAT
A heavyweight clash loaded with history. Mexico have been the most defensively disciplined team at this World Cup, three clean sheets in the group stage, a 2-0 win over Ecuador in the Round of 32, and will host England at the Estadio Azteca with the full weight of the home crowd behind them.
England edged DR Congo 2-1 through two Kane goals and must improve significantly to win at one of football’s most intimidating venues.
Portugal vs Spain
Monday July 6 | 20:00 GMT | 21:00 WAT
The Iberian derby. The tie of the Round of 16. Portugal advanced after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty in the 41st minute against Croatia, his first ever World Cup knockout goal at 41 years and 147 days old, the oldest scorer in World Cup knockout history, before Gonçalo Ramos headed a 94th-minute winner.
Spain beat Austria 3-0 with Lamine Yamal producing a historic performance. Two proud footballing nations, the past and the future of the game, meeting at the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.
USA vs Belgium
Tuesday July 7 | 01:00 GMT | 02:00 WAT
The co-hosts face a Belgium side with serious quality throughout their squad. The USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in front of their home crowd in the Round of 32, playing with the energy of a team transformed under their current setup.
This is a genuine 50-50 fixture and one of the most unpredictable matchups in the entire bracket.
Argentina vs Egypt
Tuesday July 7 | 17:00 GMT | 18:00 WAT
Argentina survived the most dramatic match of the entire tournament to get here. They were pushed to extra time and the brink of elimination by Cape Verde, eventually winning 3-2 after an own goal in the 111th minute rescued the reigning champions.
Messi opened the scoring, Lisandro Martínez restored their lead at 92 minutes, and Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning equaliser in the 103rd minute threatened to produce the greatest upset in World Cup history before Cristian Romero’s header deflected in off Diney Borges. Argentina’s toughest night is behind them. Egypt now await.
Switzerland vs Colombia
Tuesday July 7 | 21:00 GMT | 22:00 WAT | Vancouver
Colombia reached the Round of 16 for the third time in their last three World Cup appearances with a 1-0 win over Ghana, Jhon Arias scoring the winner in the 14th minute.
Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 32, with Joël Manzambi directly involved in five tournament goals. Both sides will be targeting a quarter-final place against either Argentina or Egypt.
THE MATCHUPS IN CONTEXT
The draw has produced a bracket of remarkable variety. France and Argentina are the two heaviest favourites to advance from the confirmed fixtures, while Paraguay vs France and Argentina vs Egypt carry the most extraordinary back-stories.
Paraguay are in the last 16 having beaten Germany on penalties. Argentina needed extra time and a deflected own goal to survive the lowest-ranked team in the draw.
Brazil vs Norway and Portugal vs Spain are the two fixtures that will define who controls the quarter-final half of the bracket.
Whoever wins those ties will carry enormous momentum into the last eight, and both matches pit individual narratives; Haaland vs Vinicius, Ronaldo vs Yamal, against genuine tactical interest.
Mexico vs England at the Azteca is the fixture English supporters will approach with genuine anxiety.
England have won two of their three World Cup meetings, but never at this venue with this crowd and this Mexico side in this kind of form.
FAQs
When does the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 start?
The Round of 16 begins on Friday July 4 with Canada vs Morocco kicking off at 18:00 GMT/19:00 WAT.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16?
Sixteen teams compete across eight matches, with the eight winners advancing to the quarter-finals.
Who are the eight Round of 16 fixtures at the 2026 World Cup?
The eight fixtures are Canada vs Morocco, Paraguay vs France, Brazil vs Norway, Mexico vs England, Portugal vs Spain, USA vs Belgium, Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia.
What happened in the Argentina vs Cape Verde match?
Argentina survived the most dramatic game of the tournament, winning 3-2 after extra time. Cape Verde equalised twice, at 59 minutes and again in the 103rd minute through a contender for goal of the tournament from Sidny Lopes Cabral, before a deflected own goal in the 111th minute finally ended their historic run.
What happened in Colombia vs Ghana?
Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 through Jhon Arias’s 14th-minute goal, set up by substitute Luis Suárez following an early injury to Jhon Córdoba. Both teams made substitutions before the 15th minute, a World Cup first. Colombia advance to face Switzerland in Vancouver.
What happens if a Round of 16 match ends in a draw?
If a match is level after 90 minutes, it proceeds to 30 minutes of extra time. If still level, it is decided by a penalty shootout.
