NEW DELHI: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its business end, with all 16 teams confirmed for the Round of 16 after a dramatic Round of 32 that saw heavyweights like Germany and the Netherlands crash out. Defending champions Argentina survived a scare against Cape Verde, while Colombia secured the final spot with a narrow win over Ghana.
Which teams qualified for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16?
The 16 teams that have booked their places in the knockout stage are:
- Canada:
- Morocco:
- Paraguay:
- France:
- Brazil:
- Norway:
- Mexico:
- England:
- Portugal:
- Spain:
- United States:
- Belgium:
- Switzerland:
- Colombia:
- Argentina:
- Egypt:
FIFA World Cup Round of 16 fixtures
The Round of 16 features a number of blockbuster encounters, including England taking on co-hosts Mexico and an all-Iberian clash between Portugal and Spain.
Complete Round of 16 schedule (IST Date & Time)
Fixture Date Time (IST)
- Canada vs. Morocco July 4 10:30 PM
- Paraguay vs. France July 5 2:30 AM:
Brazil vs. Norway July 6 1:30 AMMexico vs. England July 6 5:30 AMPortugal vs. Spain July 7 12:30 AM- USA vs Belgium July 7 5:30 AM:
Argentina vs. Egypt July 7 9:30 PM- Switzerland vs Colombia July 8 1:30 AM:
Biggest knockout bouts to watch:
- Mexico vs. England. Co-hosts Mexico take on Harry Kane’s England in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Round of 16.
- Portugal vs. Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal take on Spain in a heavyweight Iberian showdown with major quarterfinal implications.
- Brazil vs. Norway. Brazil’s attacking stars will face the challenge of Norway led by Erling Haaland.
- Argentina vs. Egypt. Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina begin their title defense against a strong Egyptian side.
How the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup works
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have an expanded 48-team format. After the group stage, 32 teams entered the first knockout round, where the winners advance to the Round of 16. From this stage, the tournament follows a straight knockout format – Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final. If a match is level after 90 minutes, it will go to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to determine the winner.