World Cup Round of 16 Bracket: Full Fixtures, Matchups and How Each Team Qualified

• The FIFA World Cup Round of 16 is officially set, with football giants including Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain and Portugal all progressing to the knockout stage after a dramatic Round of 32.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its most exciting stage, with the Round of 16 officially confirmed after an action-packed Round of 32 that delivered dramatic penalty shootouts, stunning upsets and unforgettable late winners.

Only 16 nations remain in the race for football’s biggest prize after 48 teams began the tournament. Defending champions Argentina are still alive alongside fellow heavyweights Brazil, England, France, Spain and Portugal, while co-hosts United States, Mexico and Canada have all secured places in the knockout stage. Surprise packages such as Egypt, Paraguay, Morocco, Colombia and Cape Verde have also earned their spots after impressive campaigns.

The knockout bracket promises several blockbuster clashes, with every remaining fixture now a winner-takes-all contest.

Confirmed Round of 16 Fixtures

Saturday, July 4

• Canada vs Morocco
• Paraguay vs France

Sunday, July 5

• Brazil vs Norway
• Mexico vs England

Monday, July 6

• Spain vs Portugal
• Belgium vs United States

Tuesday, July 7

• Egypt vs Argentina
• Switzerland vs Colombia

Quarter-final Schedule

The winners will advance to the quarter-finals beginning on July 9.

• Winner of Paraguay vs France vs Winner of Canada vs Morocco
• Winner of Spain vs Portugal vs Winner of Belgium vs USA
• Winner of Brazil vs Norway vs Winner of Mexico vs England
• Winner of Egypt vs Argentina vs Winner of Switzerland vs Colombia

The semi-finals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, while the third-place playoff will take place on July 18 before the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

How Each Team Qualified

Canada reached the Round of 16 after defeating South Africa 1-0 in the Round of 32, having finished second in Group B.

Morocco advanced by eliminating the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Paraguay stunned Germany on penalties after battling to a 1-1 draw, pulling off one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.

France cruised into the last 16 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden after finishing Group I with a perfect record.

Brazil overcame Japan 2-1 to continue their quest for another World Cup title.

Norway booked their place after edging Ivory Coast 2-1.

Mexico, one of the tournament’s co-hosts, comfortably defeated Ecuador 2-0 after topping Group A.

England secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over DR Congo to remain among the favourites.

Spain impressed with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria to set up an all-European showdown with Portugal.

Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in another closely contested encounter.

Belgium survived a thrilling contest to beat Senegal 3-2.

United States delighted home supporters with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina to keep their World Cup dream alive.

Egypt reached the Round of 16 after defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, recording their first-ever World Cup knockout victory.

Argentina were pushed to the limit before defeating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.

Switzerland comfortably beat Algeria 2-0 to progress.

Colombia continued their unbeaten campaign by defeating Ghana 1-0, extending their impressive run and setting up a meeting with Switzerland.

Road to the Final

The Round of 16 bracket has also created several mouth-watering potential quarter-final and semi-final clashes. A possible Argentina vs Brazil showdown remains on course, while England, France, Spain and Portugal could all meet deeper into the tournament if they continue winning.

With every remaining match now a straight knockout, there is no room for error as the battle to become 2026 FIFA World Cup champions enters its decisive phase.