2026 World Cup Round of 16: All 8 matches, schedule and preview

The 2026 World Cup’s Round of 16 — the stage that will decide who reaches the final days of the tournament — begins on July 4 with France vs Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (5pm ET / 11pm CET). Eight matches over four days (July 4-7) will reduce the field from 16 to the eight quarter-finalists.

Confirmed Round of 16 matchups

Six of the eight matches are already set:

• France vs Paraguay — July 4, 5pm ET, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. France have been the tournament’s most clinical side: five wins from five Round of 32 matches, 16 goals scored and just 2 conceded. Paraguay earned their place with a historic upset — eliminating Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, ending the four-time champions’ campaign.

• USA vs Belgium — The Americans defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 on July 1 (Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman; USA’s first knockout win since 2002). Belgium came back from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time.

• England vs Mexico — Harry Kane scored twice to give England a 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo on July 1; Kane now has 5 World Cup goals at this tournament. Mexico won their first World Cup knockout match in 40 years with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, ending the infamous ‘quinto partido’ jinx.

• Canada vs Morocco — Canada’s remarkable tournament continues after their group-stage 6-0 demolition of Qatar. Morocco knocked out the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after Issa Diop’s extraordinary 91st-minute equaliser from a Chemsdine Talbi cross, then Ismael Saibari scored the decisive shootout kick.

• Brazil vs Norway — Brazil have been efficient rather than spectacular throughout the tournament. Norway’s Erling Haaland has been a revelation with 5 goals, including the winner against Ivory Coast in the Round of 32.

• Spain vs Portugal — An Iberian derby confirmed when the draw was made. Spain won 3-1 against Austria; Portugal’s path was more dramatic — Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot in the 68th, and Goncalo Ramos headed in the winner at 90+4’ from a Rafael Leao cross. A Josko Gvardiol header was ruled out by VAR, sparking furious Croatian protests before the final whistle.

Full bracket confirmed (updated July 4)

The final two Round of 16 spots were decided on July 3, completing the bracket:

• Egypt vs Argentina (July 7, Atlanta) — Egypt beat Australia 1-1 after extra time, winning the penalty shootout 4-2, to reach the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time since 1990. Argentina, as expected, beat Cape Verde to advance as defending champions. Messi arrives with 6 tournament goals — the all-time World Cup scoring record of 18 — and Argentina are the heavy favourites.

• Switzerland vs Colombia (July 7, Vancouver) — Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 on July 3 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Jhon Arias scored the decisive goal in the 13th minute. James Rodríguez, who has not scored or assisted in the tournament, was substituted off at half-time by manager Néstor Lorenzo (replaced by Richard Rios). Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 to reach the Round of 16.

July 4 results (confirmed)

• France 1-0 Paraguay — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty in the 70th minute after VAR confirmed a foul on Ousmane Doué. France’s clean sheet makes it six from six in this tournament. They face Morocco in the quarter-final on July 9 in Boston.
• Morocco 3-0 Canada — NRG Stadium, Houston. Amine Ounahi scored twice (50’, 82’) and Amir Rahimi added a third in the 90+8th minute. Morocco were dominant throughout; Canada, who had impressed all tournament, had no answer. Morocco advance to meet France in the quarter-finals.

July 5 results (confirmed)

• Norway 2-1 Brazil — Erling Haaland scored twice (51’, 78’) to eliminate the five-time champions in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. Brazil had been considered among the favourites heading into the knockout stages; their exit is the most dramatic result of the 2026 Round of 16 so far. Norway advance to the quarter-finals with Haaland now on 7 tournament goals — joint-leading the Golden Boot alongside Mbappé.

• England 3-2 Mexico — Jude Bellingham opened (22’), Julián Quiñones equalised for Mexico (28’), Bellingham struck again (59’), Harry Kane converted a penalty (75’) to make it 3-1. Mexico fought back: a late goal pulled it to 3-2, and England finished with 10 men in stoppage time. England held on. Mexico, who had broken their 40-year knockout curse just five days earlier against Ecuador, are eliminated. Kane now has 6 World Cup goals at this tournament; Bellingham has 2. Sources: ESPN, FIFA, BBC Sport.

July 6 results (confirmed)

• Belgium 4-1 USA — AT&T Stadium, Dallas. Charles De Ketelaere was the standout performer, scoring twice and adding an assist. Malik Tillman briefly pulled one back for the host nation with a direct free kick, but Belgium were dominant throughout. Romelu Lukaku sealed it in stoppage time. The USMNT’s home World Cup campaign ends in the Round of 16, with the host nation failing to reach the quarter-finals on their own soil. Spain-Belgium meet in the quarter-finals on July 10 in Los Angeles.

• Spain 1-0 Portugal — AT&T Stadium, Dallas. Substitute Mikel Merino headed home from a corner kick in stoppage time to end the Iberian derby and send Spain through to the quarter-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the pitch at the final whistle, was unable to prevent Portugal’s exit — widely reported as the end of his World Cup career after six editions. Spain face Belgium on July 10 in Los Angeles.

July 7 results (confirmed)

• Argentina 3-2 Egypt — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Egypt led 2-0 through Yasser Ibrahim (15’) and Mostafa Zico (67’); Mohamed Shobeir saved a Messi penalty. Argentina then scored three times in 13 extraordinary minutes: Cristian Romero headed in a corner (79’); Lionel Messi drilled home (83’) for his 8th tournament goal, overtaking Mbappé and Haaland to take the outright Golden Boot lead; and Enzo Fernández swept in the winner in the 90+2nd. One of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history.
• Switzerland 0-0 Colombia a.e.t., 4-3 on pens — BC Place, Vancouver. A goalless 120 minutes before Switzerland edged through on penalties. Rubén Vargas scored the decisive kick. Switzerland advance to their first World Cup quarter-final in over 70 years.

Quarter-final bracket (all confirmed):

• France vs Morocco — July 9, TD Garden, Boston (5pm ET)
• Spain vs Belgium — July 10, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (3pm ET)
• Norway vs England — July 11
• Argentina vs Switzerland — July 11, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Key facts: Round of 16 runs July 4-7. Sixteen teams enter; eight advance to the quarter-finals. If tied after 90 minutes: 30 minutes extra time, then penalty shootout. Final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Sources: FIFA, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, VAVEL.