World Cup 2026 bracket and knockout fixtures - who's facing who in the last 32 and route to final

As the World Cup group stage draws to a close, it's time to start looking ahead to the knockout rounds and potential routes to the final on July 19. <p>Who could face who in the last 32? Can we see how the quarter-final draw is shaping up? How are the potential routes to the final looking? Is there a more difficult side of the draw?</p><p>There are still plenty of twists and turns to come but here's an early look at how the last 32 and how the rest of the tournament is unfolding, as things stand...</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13481245/world-cup-2026-fixture-schedule-and-uk-kick-off-times-day-by-day-breakdown-of-all-104-matches-including-england-scotland"><strong>World Cup fixture schedule - your day-by-day guide</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/fifa-world-cup-table"><strong>World Cup tables</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13556635/world-cup-2026-third-place-standings-live-table-as-top-eight-sides-qualify-for-knockout-stage"><strong>Live World Cup 2026 third-place table - who's on course to qualify?</strong></a></li></ul><widget id="2"></widget><h3>Confirmed last 32 ties</h3><p><strong>Sunday June 28</strong><br /><br />Match 73:<strong> South Africa</strong> vs <strong>Canada</strong>, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA<br /><br /><strong>Monday June 29</strong><br /><br />Match 76: <strong>Brazil </strong>vs <strong>Japan</strong>, kick-off 6pm - Houston, USA<br /><br />Match 74: <strong>Germany</strong> vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm - Foxborough, USA<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday June 30</strong><br /><br />Match 75: <strong>Netherlands </strong>vs <strong>Morocco</strong>, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, Mexico<br /><br />Match 78: <strong>Ivory Coast</strong> vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, USA<br /><br />Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, USA<br /><br /><strong>Wednesday July 1</strong><br /><br />Match 79: <strong>Mexico</strong> vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, Mexico<br /><br />Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, USA<br /><br />Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm - Seattle, USA<br /><br /><strong>Thursday July 2</strong><br /><br />Match 81: <strong>USA</strong> vs <strong>Bosnia-Herzegovina</strong>, kick-off 1am - Santa Clara, USA<br /><br />Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA<br /><br /><strong>Friday July 3</strong><br /><br />Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am - Toronto, Canada<br /><br />Round of 32 - Match 85: <strong>Switzerland</strong> vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, Canada<br /><br />Round of 32 - Match 88: <strong>Australia </strong>vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm - Arlington, USA<br /><br />Round of 32 - Match 86: <strong>Argentina</strong> vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm - Miami, USA<br /><br /><strong>Saturday July 4</strong><br /><br />Round of 32 - Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am - Kansas City, USA</p><h3><strong>And what about the last 16?</strong></h3><p>There's a long way to go but as things stand, <strong>France </strong>and <strong>Germany</strong> are on course to meet in the last 16, as are<strong> Portugal</strong> and<strong> Spain</strong>.</p><h3>Confirmed last-16 ties:</h3><p><strong>Canada </strong>or <strong>South Africa</strong> vs <strong>Morocco </strong>or <strong>Netherlands</strong></p><p><strong>Brazil</strong> or <strong>Japan</strong> vs<strong> Ivory Coast</strong> or <strong>Norway</strong></p><h3>How is England's route looking?</h3><p>Thomas Tuchel's side have work to do against Panama but are still on course to top Group L.</p><p>Were they to progress as group winners, their last-32 match will be on Wednesday July 1, with a 5pm UK time kick-off, against a third-placed team from Group E, H, I, J or K.</p><p>As it stands, England will face <strong>Ecuador </strong>in the last 32.</p><p>If England were to progress from the round of 32, they would face a potential last-16 tie with a third-placed qualifier, or co-hosts and confirmed Group A winners <strong>Mexico</strong>, in Mexico City on Monday July 6 at 1am UK time.</p><p><strong>Brazil</strong> are potential last-eight opponents on Saturday July 11, while holders <strong>Argentina </strong>could lie in wait in the semi-finals.</p><p>And then it could be a repeat of Euro 2024 and England vs <strong>Spain</strong> in the final.</p><p>As things stand, England will have to do it the hard away if they are to win a first World Cup since 1966.</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13479783/englands-world-cup-2026-fixtures-schedule-and-tournament-route-to-final-how-three-lions-could-lift-trophy-on-july-19">England's routes to 2026 World Cup final</a></strong></li></ul><h3>What about Scotland?</h3><p><strong>Scotland</strong>'s World Cup dreams are hanging by a thread. They can only progress to the last 32 as one of the top eight third-placed sides. But they now sit eighth in the table and are in severe danger of being knocked out once the group stage is completed.</p><h2>How the third-place battle stands</h2> <widget id="3"></widget><h3>Who has already qualified for the knockout rounds?</h3><ul><li>Mexico - Group A winners</li><li>South Africa - Group A runners-up</li><li>Switzerland - Group B winners</li><li>Canada - Group B runners-up</li><li>Bosnia-Herzegovina - Group B third place</li><li>Brazil - Group C winners</li><li>Morocco - Group C runners-up</li><li>USA - Group D winners</li><li>Australia - Group D runners-up</li><li>Germany - Group E winners</li><li>Ivory Coast - Group E runners-up</li><li>Ecuador - Group E third place</li><li>Netherlands - Group F winners</li><li>Japan - Group F runners-up</li><li>Sweden - Group F third place</li><li>Argentina - Group J winners</li><li>Colombia - Group K top-two</li><li>France - Group I top-two</li><li>Norway - Group I top-two</li></ul><h3>Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup?</h3><ul><li>Haiti</li><li>Turkey</li><li>Tunisia</li><li>Jordan</li><li>Panama</li><li>Qatar</li><li>Czech Republic</li><li>Curacao</li></ul><h2>Live group tables</h2><h3>Final Group A table</h3> <widget id="9"></widget><p><strong>Mexico</strong> finished top of Group A with three wins from three while <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/south-africa-vs-korea-republic/report/549814"><strong>South Africa </strong>beat <strong>South Korea</strong> 1-0</a> to clinch second spot.</p><p><strong>South Korea</strong> must wait to learn their fate in the third-place table but <strong>Czech Republic</strong> are out.</p><h3>Final Group B table</h3> <widget id="10"></widget><p><strong>Switzerland</strong> finished top of Group B <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/switzerland-vs-canada/549817">after a 2-1 win against <strong>Canada</strong></a> in the final group game.</p><p><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/switzerland-vs-canada/549817"><strong>Bosnia-Herzegovina</strong></a> are in a strong position to progress as one of the best third-place finishers. <strong>Qatar</strong> have been knocked out.</p><h3>Final Group C table</h3> <widget id="11"></widget><p><strong>Brazil </strong>and <strong>Morocco</strong> have progressed from Group C - <strong>Brazil </strong>will face <strong>Japan</strong> and <strong>Morocco</strong> will play <strong>Netherlands</strong>.</p><p><strong>Scotland</strong> could still progress as one of the best third-placed teams but their hopes are fading fast.</p><p><strong>Haiti </strong>are out having become the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.</p><h3>Group D</h3> <widget id="12"></widget><p>The <strong>United States</strong> became the second host nation to progress after beating <strong>Australia</strong> 2-0 in their second group game, sealing top spot.</p><p><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/paraguay-vs-australia/report/549820">Australia then drew 0-0 with Paraguay</a> to grab second place and a place in the last 32 but <strong>Paraguay</strong> are set to qualify as one of the third-placed teams.</p> <widget id="24"></widget><h3>Final Group E table</h3> <widget id="13"></widget><p><strong>Germany </strong>secured top spot<strong> </strong>and booked their place in the knockouts after two wins from two. This was unaffected by their shock 2-1 loss to<strong> Ecuador </strong>in the final group game, which sent the South American side through to the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams.</p><p><strong>Ivory Coast </strong>secured second place after a 2-0 win over <strong>Curacao</strong>, who have been eliminated from the World Cup</p> <widget id="25"></widget><h3>Final Group F table</h3> <widget id="14"></widget><p><strong>Netherlands </strong>secured top spot with a 3-1 win over already-eliminated <strong>Tunisia</strong>.</p><p><strong>Japan </strong>finish second in the group thanks to a 1-1 draw with <strong>Sweden</strong>.</p><p>Graham Potter's Sweden are guaranteed to qualify as a third-placed side as they have four points and 0 goal difference.</p> <widget id="27"></widget><h3><strong>Group G</strong></h3> <widget id="15"></widget><p><strong><em>Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 4am<br />New Zealand vs Belgium - <em>Vancouver, Canada<br />Egypt vs Iran - <em>Seattle, USA</em></em></em></strong></p><p>Group G is all to play for. <strong>Egypt</strong> are top and will officially qualify for the round of 32 if they avoid defeat to Iran, but are pretty much there already as a best third-placed side at least.</p><p>A win secures top spot for Egypt, but a draw could see them overtaken by Belgium, who would then need to beat New Zealand and overturn a two-goal swing in goal difference.</p><p><strong>Iran </strong>need to match Belgium's result to finish second, while defeat to Egypt will likely see them eliminated. A draw could see them qualify as a third-placed team, but that is not guaranteed.</p><p><strong>Belgium</strong>, meanwhile, know victory will take them through as a top-two side. Like Iran, a draw would leave their fate in the balance. Defeat will see Belgium eliminated if Iran avoid defeat as two points will not be enough to progress as a third-placed team.</p> <widget id="28"></widget><h3>Group H</h3> <widget id="16"></widget><p><strong><em>Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 1am<br />Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - <em>Houston, USA<br />Uruguay vs Spain - <em>Zapopan, Mexico</em></em></em></strong></p><p><strong>Spain </strong>need to avoid defeat to Uruguay to qualify for the round of 32, with a win securing top spot.</p><p><strong>Uruguay </strong>need to match Cape Verde's result against Saudi Arabia to finish second and qualify automatically.</p><p>But if there is a winner in the other game, then Uruguay would need to win against Spain to finish in the top two, while a draw would leave their third-placed hopes in the balance. Defeat to Spain would likely eliminate Marcelo Bielsa's side.</p><p><strong>Cape Verde</strong> must better Uruguay's result to finish in the top two. They can even top the group if they beat Saudi Arabia, Spain fail to beat Uruguay and they overturn La Roja's goal difference lead. They can also finish top if they win and do so by a bigger margin than a Uruguay victory over Spain.</p><p>A draw is enough for the African nation to qualify if Spain beat Uruguay, but any result for Uruguay would mean a draw gives them a nervous wait in the third-placed team qualification process.</p><p><strong>Saudi Arabia</strong> know it's win or bust to reach the round of 32. They will be in the top two if they win and Uruguay fail to beat Spain. But even if Uruguay win, four points would be enough for the Saudis as a third-placed qualifier.</p> <widget id="30"></widget><h3>Group I</h3> <widget id="17"></widget><p><strong><em>Final group matches - Friday June 26, 8pm<br />Norway vs France - <em>Foxborough, USA<br />Senegal vs Iraq - <em>Toronto, Canada</em></em></em></strong></p><p>France and Norway are both through as top two teams - and it's a showdown in Boston to see who finishes top. A draw would see France finish first on goal difference.</p><p>Senegal and Iraq also have a shoot-out to see who can give themselves a chance as one of the top eight third-placed teams.</p><p>Both teams need to win and win big to reach a positive goal difference, to give them the best possible chance of reaching the round of 32.</p> <widget id="31"></widget><h3>Group J</h3> <widget id="18"></widget><p><strong><em>Final group matches - Sunday June 28, 3pm</em></strong><br /><em><strong>Algeria vs Austria - Kansas City, USA<br />Jordan vs Argentina - </strong><em><strong>Arlington, USA</strong></em></em></p><p><strong>Argentina </strong>are through as group winners due to their head-to-head record over Austria and Algeria. They have nothing to play for against already-eliminated <strong>Jordan</strong>.</p><p><strong>Algeria </strong>and <strong>Austria </strong>have a showdown to see who finishes second in the group. It's winner-takes-all on that front, but a draw would favour Austria due to a superior goal difference.</p><p>Whoever loses that game would face a nervous wait to see if they finish as one of the best third-placed teams - as that team would have a negative goal difference.</p> <widget id="29"></widget><h3>Group K</h3> <widget id="19"></widget><p><strong><em>Final group matches - Sunday June 28, 12.30am<br />Colombia vs Portugal - <em>Miami, USA<br />DR Congo vs Uzbekistan - <em>Atlanta, USA</em></em></em></strong></p><p><strong>Colombia</strong> and <strong>Portugal</strong> have a showdown in Miami to see who finishes as Group K winner. Colombia will win the group if they can avoid defeat.</p><p><strong>DR Congo</strong> face<strong> Uzbekistan </strong>knowing a win would seal third with four points.<strong> </strong>That could be enough to see them finish as one of the best third-placed teams and reach the last 32.</p><p><strong>Uzbekistan</strong>, who are not yet eliminated, could still sneak through with a win over DR Congo as one of the best third-placed teams, but they would need a big win to boost their goal difference.</p> <widget id="32"></widget><h3>Group L</h3> <widget id="20"></widget><p><strong><em>Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 10pm<br />Panama vs England - New Jersey, USA<br />Croatia vs Ghana - Philadelphia, USA</em></strong></p><p><strong>England's </strong>automatic progression into the knockout stages has been delayed by their 0-0 draw with Ghana, but Thomas Tuchel's side are still on course to qualify as group winner.</p><p>The Three Lions will win the group if they better <strong>Ghana</strong>'s result against <strong>Croatia</strong> when they take on already-eliminated <strong>Panama</strong>.</p><p>Croatia and Ghana<strong> </strong>are likely going head to head for second in the group but could go above England if they fail to beat Panama. A draw will be enough for both teams to progress to the knockouts with Ghana as runners-up and Croatia as one of the best third-placed sides.</p><p>Ghana should already have enough to qualify even with a defeat to Croatia, who could be eliminated with a heavy defeat to Ghana.</p> <widget id="33"></widget> <widget id="41"></widget>