World Cup Round of 32 Fixtures Confirmed

The group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 ended with thrilling contests as teams battled for the final places in the Round of 32. After fierce competition across the 12 groups, 24 teams secured automatic qualification, while Bosnia and Herzegovina progressed as one of the best third-placed teams to complete the knockout line-up.

Defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will face Cape Verde in one of the standout Round of 32 ties. The African nation impressed during the group stage by holding both Spain and Uruguay to draws, earning a deserved place in the knockout rounds.

The expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 began with a record 48 teams, but only 32 remain in the race for football’s biggest prize. From this stage onward, every match is a single-leg knockout, meaning defeat will end a team’s title hopes.

Round of 32 Fixtures (WAT/Nigerian Time):

• South Africa vs Canada – Saturday, June 28 | 6:00 pm WAT
• Brazil vs Japan – Monday, June 29 | 6:00 pm WAT
• Germany vs Paraguay – Monday, June 29 | 9:30 pm WAT
• Netherlands vs Morocco – Tuesday, June 30 | 2:00 am WAT
• Ivory Coast vs Norway – Tuesday, June 30 | 6:00 pm WAT
• France vs Sweden – Tuesday, June 30 | 10:00 pm WAT
• Mexico vs Ecuador – Wednesday, July 1 | 2:00 am WAT
• England vs DR Congo – Wednesday, July 1 | 5:00 pm WAT
• Belgium vs Senegal – Wednesday, July 1 | 9:00 pm WAT
• USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – Thursday, July 2 | 1:00 am WAT
• Spain vs Austria – Thursday, July 2 | 6:00 pm WAT
• Portugal vs Croatia – Friday, July 3 | 12:00 am WAT
• Switzerland vs Algeria – Friday, July 3 | 4:00 am WAT
• Australia vs Egypt – Friday, July 3 | 7:00 pm WAT
• Argentina vs Cape Verde – Friday, July 3 | 11:00 pm WAT
• Colombia vs Ghana – Saturday, July 4 | 2:30 am WAT