There are only a few days left until the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And the round of 32 is completing.
As of Friday morning, 14 teams had booked a place in the knockout round and four of the 16 round of 32 matches had already been decided. At the end of today’s matches, more teams will have earned a place in the round of 32, and at the end of the weekend the round of 32 will be decided.
And we can start thinking about possible matchups in the round of 16.
Here’s what we know about the round of 32 and what we could see in the round of 16.
Update: The round of 32 is now complete, with Austria and Algeria completing the field.
FIFA World Cup 2026 draw
Let’s start with the qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Here, courtesy of USA todayis the bracket for the knockout round:
Let’s move through the bracket as it is, starting with the matches at the top left.
Match 74: Germany vs. Paraguay
In match 74, the best team in Group E will face the third placed team in Group A, B, C, D or F.
Germany has clinched Group E and is awaiting a winner. To see the third place standings and which teams have secured a place in the round of 32 as the third place team, we’ve got you covered here.
Update: Paraguay is now confirmed as Germany’s opponent.
Match 77: France vs. Sweden
The next match, as we move through the group, is Match 77.
Game 77 will pit the best team in Group I against the third placed team in Group C, D, F, G or H.
The best team in Group I will be France or Norway, and the group winner will be determined when those two titans meet on Friday afternoon. For more information on the third place ranking, we’ve got you covered here.
Update: France’s 4-1 victory over Norway secured Group I, and they will qualify for match 77. Sweden are now confirmed as their opponents.
Match 73: South Africa vs. Canada
The next game, as we move up the standings, is our first completely even game in the round of 32.
This match pits a pair of second-place teams, Canada from Group B and South Africa from Group A.
Match 75: Netherlands vs. Morocco
The next match is also set and could become an instant classic.
On one side? Holland, winner of Group F. On the other? Morocco, which finished second in Group C.
Match 83: Portugal vs. Croatia
We move on to the lower left quadrant of the table and to match 83. It will feature the second placed team in Group K and Croatia, which took second place in Group L after beating Ghana.
Update: Portugal has achieved second place in Group K and will now face Croatia.
Match 84: Spain vs. Austria
The next match on the list is also to be defined.
In Match 84, the top team from Group H will face the second-place team from Group J. Spain is in the driver’s seat in Group H, while Austria and Algeria are the likely options outside of Group J.
Update: With their 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday night, Spain secured first place in Group H. Austria secured second place in Group J with a dramatic stoppage-time goal against Algeria.
Match 81: United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Game 81, however, is decided.
The United States secured a spot in the knockout round with a victory over Australia in their second group match. As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, they became one of the first teams to advance to the round of 32 as a third-place team on Wednesday night, and FIFA confirmed their spot against the USMNT on Thursday night.
Match 82: Belgium vs. Senegal
The final match on the left side of the draw has yet to be determined.
The top team in Group G will face a third-place team from Group A, E, H, I, or J. At the time of this publication, Egypt is in first place in Group G, but three teams in that group (Egypt, Iran, and Belgium) can still win the group.
For more information on the third-place teams, you can see the standings here.
Update: Belgium won Group G and will face the third place team. It is now confirmed that Senegal will be the third-place team to play Belgium.
Match 76: Brazil vs. Japan
Now we move to the right side of the support, working from top to bottom. In the upper right quadrant we see a fascinating round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan. Brazil advanced as winners of Group C, while Japan finished second in Group F.
Match 78: Ivory Coast vs. Norway
The next match of the round of 32, match 78, has a confirmed team. Ivory Coast advanced to the round of 32 as second place in Group E. They will face the second place in Group I, which will be France or Norway.
Update: Norway finished second in Group I and in this match they will face Ivory Coast.
Match 79: Mexico vs. Ecuador
In match 79, the host team, Mexico, will face a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H or I. That team has not yet been confirmed, but could be Scotland or Ecuador, depending on the various permutations.
Update: Ecuador has been confirmed as Mexico’s opponent.
Match 80: England vs. DR Congo
Match 80 will pit England against a third-place team from Group I or K. That team will be either Senegal or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, depending on Saturday’s results. Here’s a look at the teams vying for a third-place finish.
Update: Following Saturday night’s match, the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been confirmed as England’s opponents in the round of 32.
Match 86: Argentina vs. Cape Verde
Now we move on to the lower right quadrant of the table, to match 86. Argentina, having secured Group J, is confirmed as one of the teams in this match. Lionel Messi and company will take on the second-place team in Group H. For more information on the Group H scenarios, we’ve got you covered here.
Update: The Blue Sharks are classified as the second team in Group H. Cape Verde’s reward? A date with the defending World Cup champions.
Match 88: Australia vs. Egypt
One side of Match 88 is set, with Australia advancing to the round of 32 as the second place in Group D. They will face the second place in Group G. All four teams (Egypt, Iran, Belgium and New Zealand) are potential opponents at the time of this publication.
Update: Egypt took second place in Group G and will play Australia in Match 88.
Match 85: Switzerland vs. Algeria
Switzerland advanced to the round of 32 as winners of Group B and will face a third-place team from Group E, F, G, I or J.
Update: Algeria took third place and will place Switzerland
Match 87: Colombia vs. Ghana
The final match of the round of 32, at the bottom right of the bracket, will pit the winners of Group K against third-place Ghana. Colombia and Portugal are competing for first place in Group K and will meet on Saturday in the final match of Group K.
Update: Colombia won Group K and will now play against Ghana in Match 87.
Possible round of 16 matches
Let’s run through some scenarios for the round of 16 games, again starting in the top left quadrant of the draw.
Match 89 will pit the winner of Match 74 against the winner of Match 77. It has been confirmed that Germany will play a third-place team from Group A, B, C, D or F in Match 74, while the two teams for Match 77 have yet to be determined. Game 77 will pit the best team in Group I against the third placed team in Group C, D, F, G or H.
Match 90: Canada vs. Netherlands/Morocco
In match 90, the winners of match 73 will play the winners of match 75. Match 73 is set and South Africa will face Canada. The winner of that match will play against the winner of Match 75 between the Netherlands and Morocco.
Update: Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa on Sunday is in the books, and the host nation will face the winner of Monday’s match between the Netherlands and Morocco.
Moving now to the lower left quadrant, Match 93 will feature the winners of Match 83 against the winners of Match 84. Match 83 will feature the second place finishers from Group K and Croatia from Group L.
In match 84, the winners of Group H will play against the second placed team in Group J.
Update: Spain took first place in Group H and will now participate in Match 84.
As for the final match on the left side of the group in the Round of 16, Match 94 will see the winners of Match 81 play the winners of Match 82. Match 81 is set, with the United States playing Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the 82nd match, the top team in Group G will face a third-place team from Group A, E, H, I, or J. At the time of this publication, Egypt is in first place in Group G, but three teams in that group (Egypt, Iran, and Belgium) can still win the group.
So yes, there is a world where the United States plays Iran in the round of 16. Start your think pieces… now.
Moving to the right side of the draw, and working from top to bottom, in Match 91, the winners of Match 76 will play the winners of Match 78. Brazil will play Japan in Match 76, while in Match 78, Ivory Coast will face the second-place team in Group I, which will be either France or Norway.
The next match in the Round of 16 will see the winners of Match 79 play the winners of Match 80. In Match 79, Mexico will play a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H or I. Match 80 will pit England, winners of Group L, against a third-place team from Group I or K. Here’s a look at the teams vying for a third-place finalist spot.
Moving to the lower right quadrant, in match 95, the winners of match 86 will play the winners of match 88. In match 86, Lionel Messi and company will face the second-place team in Group H. In match 88, Australia will play the second-place team in Group G, where all four teams (Egypt, Iran, Belgium and New Zealand) are in the race.
Update: Cape Verde secured second place in Group H and will face Argentina in Match 86.
We close the round of 16 with match 86, pitting the winners of match 85 against the winners of match 87. Switzerland will face a third-place finisher from Group E, F, G, I or J in match 85. Match 87 will pit the winners of Group K against Ghana. Colombia and Portugal are competing for first place in Group K and will meet on Saturday in the final match of Group K.