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

25.06.2026, 03:40 skysports.com

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 in July 19.

Who could face who in the last 32? How are the potential routes to the final shaping up? Is there a more difficult side of the draw?

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 shaping up, as things stand...

Sunday June 28Round of 32 - Match 73: Group A runners-up vs Canada, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USAMonday June 29Round of 32 - Match 76: Brazil vs Group F runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Houston, USARound of 32 - Match 74: Germany vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm - Foxborough, USATuesday June 30Round of 32 - Match 75: Group F winners vs Morocco, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, MexicoRound of 32 - Match 78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, USARound of 32 - Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, USAWednesday July 1Round of 32 - Match 79: Mexico vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, MexicoRound of 32 - Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, USARound of 32 - Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm - Seattle, USAThursday July 2Round of 32 - Match 81: USA vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 1am - Santa Clara, USARound of 32 - Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USAFriday July 3Round of 32 - Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am - Toronto, CanadaRound of 32 - Match 85: Switzerland vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, CanadaRound of 32 - Match 88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm - Arlington, USARound of 32 - Match 86: Argentina vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm - Miami, USASaturday July 4Round of 32 - Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am - Kansas City, USA

Thomas Tuchel's side have work to do against Panama but are still on course to top Group L even after their underwhelming draw with Ghana.

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.

As it stands, England will face Cape Verde in the last 32.

Were England to progress from the round of 32, they would face a potential last-16 tie with a third-place qualifer or co-hosts and confirmed Group A winners Mexico in Mexico City on Monday July 6 at 1am UK time.

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Brazil are potential last-eight opponents on Saturday July 11, while holders Argentina and Lionel Messi could lie in wait in the semi-finals.

And then it could be a repeat of Euro 2024 and England vs Spain in the final.

As things stand, England will have to do it the hard away if they are to win a first World Cup since 1966.

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Scotland's World Cup dreams are hanging by a thread after their heavy defeat to Brazil.

After finishing their group behind both Brazil and Morocco, they can only progress to the last 32 as one of the top eight third-place sides.

Prior to kick-off against Brazil, Scotland had been in second place in the third-place table.

But the three-goal defeat to Brazil saw Scotland plunge to sixth in the table and now in severe danger of being knocked out altogether once the group stage is completed.

Final group matches - Thursday June 25, 2amCzech Republic vs Mexico - Mexico City Stadium, MexicoSouth Africa vs South Korea - Estadio Chivas, Mexico

Mexico have already qualified for the round of 32, with top spot guaranteed. That is because they have a better head-to-head record against South Korea, who cannot finish ahead of them.

South Korea will go through via second spot with a point against South Africa - but they will be eliminated if they lose and the Czech Republic beat Mexico.

Both South Africa and the Czech Republic are on one point and both teams need a win to reach four points and likely qualify as a third-placed side at least.

Mexico will face a third-placed team from group C, E, F, H or I in the round of 32.The runner-up of Group A will play the runner-up of Group B.

Switzerland finished top of Group B after a 2-1 win against Canada in the final group game.

Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1 to secure third, sending them top of the the third-place standings. It puts them in a strong position to go through as one of the eight best teams. Julen Lopetegui's Qatar have been knocked out.

In the round of 32, Switzerland winner will face a third-place team from groups E, F, G, I or J.Canada will play the runner-up of Group A.

Brazil and Morocco have progressed from Group C.

Brazil topped the group on goal difference. Although teams are ranked by head-to-head record, Brazil's draw with Morocco in the first group game means that goal difference became the separator.

Scotland could still progress as one of the best third-place teams but the heavy nature of their defeat to Brazil means Steve Clarke's team face an anxious wait while the group stage is completed.

Haiti are out having become the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup.

As winners of Group C, Brazil will face the runners-up of Group F in the last 32.That game will be played on Monday in Houston, with a 6pm UK time kick-off. As it stands, Japan are second in Group F, but both Sweden and Netherlands could also yet finish as runners-up.

Meanwhile, Morocco will face the winners of Group F. As above, Netherlands are currently top of the group, but both Japan and Sweden can still go through as group winners ahead of the Dutch.

The Group C winner will face the runner-up of Group F in the round of 32.The Group C runner-up will play the winner of Group F.

Final group matches - Friday June 26, 3amTurkey vs USA - Los Angeles, USAParaguay vs Australia - Santa Clara, USA

The United States became the second host nation to progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup after beating Australia 2-0 in their second group game.

It also means they are guaranteed to top the group thanks to their head-to-head record over both Australia and Paraguay.

Both those two teams sit on three points and face each other in the final group game. A win or a draw would be enough for either to qualify, and a point guarantees the Socceroos' spot in the knockout stages via second place, thanks to their better goal difference.

USA will play the runner-up from any of groups B, E, F, I or J in the round of 32.The Group D runner-up will face the runner-up of Group G.

Final group matches - Thursday June 25, 9pmCuracao vs Ivory Coast - Philadelphia, USAEcuador vs Germany - New Jersey, USA

Germany secured top spot and booked their place in the knockouts after two wins from two.

Ivory Coast are still well placed to qualify, following their 1-0 win against Ecuador, and avoiding defeat against Curacao will secure second. But they could also be eliminated if they lose to Curacao and Ecuador beat Germany.

Ecuador need to beat Germany and hope Curacao secure an unlikely win against Ivory Coast to have any chance of second. A draw is unlikely to be enough to qualify the South American side as a third-placed team.

Curacao know a win over the Ivory Coast is likely to qualify them as a third-placed team at least, and they will finish second if they win and Germany beat Ecuador.

Germany will play the third place team from any of groups A, B, C, D or F in the round of 32.The runner-up in Group E will face the runner-up of Group I.

Final group matches - Friday June 26, 12amTunisia vs Netherlands - Kansas City, USAJapan vs Sweden - Arlington, USA

One of the more competitive groups at this World Cup. The Netherlands sit at the top on four points and will top the group with a win over already-eliminated Tunisia.

But failure to win gives Japan and Sweden the chance to go top, and those two go head-to-head in their final game.

The winner definitely qualifies for the knockout stage as the second-placed team. Defeat would leave the fate of Graham Potter's side - via a third-place qualification spot - to chance.

A draw in Japan vs Sweden would likely put both sides into the knockout stages, while a defeat for Japan would still probably be enough for them as a third-placed team.

The winners of Group F will face Morocco in the last 32 while the runners-up will play Brazil.

In the round of 32, the Group F winner will face the runner-up of Group C.The Group F runner-up will face the winner of Group C.

Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 4amNew Zealand vs Belgium - Vancouver, CanadaEgypt vs Iran - Seattle, USA

Group G is all to play for. Egypt 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.

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.

Iran 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.

Belgium, 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 - but two points is also unlikely to be enough as a third-placed team.

The Group G winner will face a third-place team from any of groups A, E, H, I or J.The Group G runner-up will play the runner-up of Group D.

Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 1amCape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - Houston, USAUruguay vs Spain - Zapopan, Mexico

Spain need to avoid defeat to Uruguay to qualify for the round of 32, wi