Analysis— 5 min read
History was made before a ball was even kicked in anger. The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 — the first time a men's World Cup has ever featured a single-elimination round with 32 teams — ran from June 28 to July 3, delivering upsets, penalty shootouts and late winners across six extraordinary days. Here is every result.
JUNE 28
Canada 1-0 South Africa
The very first knockout match in the history of the expanded World Cup was settled by a stoppage-time Stephen Eustaquio goal at SoFi Stadium. Canada's captain Alphonso Davies returned from injury to play his first minutes since the group stage. South Africa, who had made history just by reaching the knockouts, were eliminated. Canada advance to face Morocco in the Round of 16.
JUNE 29
Brazil 2-1 Japan
Brazil were 45 minutes from humiliation before Carlo Ancelotti's side found their composure. Japan led at half-time and looked capable of producing one of the tournament's great shocks, but Brazil's quality told in the second half. Neymar, making his first start of the tournament, was central to the comeback. Brazil advance to face Norway.
Germany 1-1 Paraguay (Paraguay advance 4-3 on penalties)
The biggest shock of the Round of 32. Paraguay, who had beaten Turkey with ten men in the group stage, held Germany to a draw and then eliminated the four-time champions on penalties. VAR played a controversial role — a late German goal was ruled out for offside by the narrowest margin — before the shootout drama. Germany are out.
Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (Morocco advance 3-2 on penalties)
Morocco's penalty shootout heroics from Qatar 2022 are back. The Atlas Lions held the Netherlands level through 90 minutes and extra time, then edged the shootout 3-2 to reach the Round of 16. Morocco advance to face Canada in Houston on July 4.
JUNE 30
Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast
Erling Haaland scored once and was instrumental throughout as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to set up a Round of 16 clash with Brazil. A tournament that has featured Haaland scoring in every match now heads to MetLife Stadium for one of the most anticipated ties of the round.
France 3-0 Sweden
France were barely troubled. Ousmane Dembele continued his remarkable tournament form, Kylian Mbappe added one of his own and France cruised into the Round of 16 with minimal drama. Paraguay await them in Philadelphia on July 4.
Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
El Tri continued their perfect knockout debut at the Estadio Azteca. Raul Jimenez scored again — his third of the tournament — as Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 in front of a packed home crowd. They now face England on July 5 at the Azteca in what promises to be the tie of the round.
JULY 1
England 2-1 DR Congo
Harry Kane scored his first goal of the knockout stage as England beat DR Congo 2-1 in a match that was closer than Gareth Southgate's side would have liked. England advance to face Mexico at the Azteca.
Belgium 3-2 Senegal (after extra time)
The match of the Round of 32. Senegal led through Habib Diarra in the 25th minute and Ismaila Sarr extended it to 2-0 just after half-time. Belgium looked finished. Then Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, Youri Tielemans equalised in the 89th, and Tielemans then converted a penalty deep in extra time to win it 3-2. Belgium advance to face the United States.
USMNT 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament on the stroke of half-time, Malik Tillman added a second in the 82nd minute, and the USA's 2-0 win set an all-time high for soccer television ratings in the United States. The USMNT advance to face Belgium in Seattle on July 6.
JULY 2
Spain 3-0 Austria
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain produced their most complete performance of the tournament to dismantle Austria 3-0. Lamine Yamal played the full 90 minutes for the first time since his hamstring setback and scored Spain's third — his first World Cup goal, in his home city of Los Angeles. Spain advance.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
A wild finish. Portugal led, Croatia equalised, then a VAR decision — overturning a red card for Luka Modric on review, ruling the challenge to be on the ball — kept Croatia alive only briefly. Sergio Ramos, the veteran centre-back, headed a late winner to send Portugal through in a match that marked what is almost certainly the final World Cup encounter between Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric.
Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
Switzerland were composed and clinical, beating Algeria 2-0 to advance to face Colombia in the Round of 16 in Vancouver on July 7.
JULY 3
Egypt 1-1 Australia (Egypt advance 4-2 on penalties)
Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead early, a second-half own goal levelled it, and extra time produced no further goals. Egypt won the shootout 4-2 after Australia coach Tony Popovic made a bold substitution gamble with his goalkeeping choice that backfired. Australia are eliminated.
Argentina 2-2 Cape Verde (Argentina win — late own goal)
The most dramatic match of the round. Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, Cape Verde equalised through Deroy Duarte. In extra time Lisandro Martinez put Argentina ahead, Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral levelled again at 103 minutes. Then, with the shootout looming, a late effort from Argentina was ruled an own goal by Cape Verde to make it 3-2 — ending the most extraordinary underdog run of the 2026 World Cup. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who had been the story of Cape Verde's tournament, was finally beaten. Argentina advance to face Egypt.
Colombia 1-0 Ghana
Jhon Arias' 14th-minute goal was enough for Colombia to beat Ghana 1-0 in a match they dominated from start to finish, generating over 2.0 expected goals to Ghana's 0.26. Colombia advance to face Switzerland in Vancouver.
ROUND OF 16 MATCHUPS
Saturday July 4: Canada vs Morocco (Houston) | Paraguay vs France (Philadelphia)
Sunday July 5: Brazil vs Norway (New Jersey) | Mexico vs England (Mexico City)
Monday July 6: Spain vs Portugal (Dallas) | USA vs Belgium (Seattle)
Tuesday July 7: Argentina vs Egypt (Atlanta) | Switzerland vs Colombia (Vancouver)