FIFA World Cup 2026: Who plays who in the knockout stage 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.

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?.

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...

Last 32 line-up as it stands

World Cup last 32 schedule - confirmed teams in bold

Sunday June 28

Round of 32 - Match 73: South Africa vs Canada, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA

Monday June 29

Round of 32 - Match 76: Brazil vs Group F runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Houston, USA

Round of 32 - Match 74: Germany vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm - Foxborough, USA

Tuesday June 30

Round of 32 - Match 75: Group F winners vs Morocco, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, Mexico

Round of 32 - Match 78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, USA

Round of 32 - Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, USA

Wednesday July 1

Round of 32 - Match 79: Mexico vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, Mexico

Round of 32 - Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, USA

Round of 32 - Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm - Seattle, USA

Thursday July 2

Round of 32 - Match 81: USA vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 1am - Santa Clara, USA

Round of 32 - Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA

Friday July 3

Round of 32 - Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am - Toronto, Canada

Round of 32 - Match 85: Switzerland vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, Canada

Round of 32 - Match 88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm - Arlington, USA

Round of 32 - Match 86: Argentina vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm - Miami, USA

Saturday July 4

Round of 32 - Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am - Kansas City, USA

And what about the last 16?

With only 12 of the 32 teams through to the knockout stage confirmed, there is a long way to go before the prospective last-16 draw takes shape, let alone the quarter-finals or semi-finals.

But, as things stand, France and Germany are on course to meet in the last 16, as are Portugal and Spain.

How is England's route looking?

Thomas Tuchel's side have work to do against Panama but are still on course to top Group L.

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-placed qualifier, or co-hosts and confirmed Group A winners Mexico, in Mexico City on Monday July 6 at 1am UK time.

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.

How the third-place battle stands

Third-place table

Who has already qualified for the knockout rounds?

• Mexico - Group A winners
• South Africa - Group A runners-up
• Switzerland - Group B winners
• Canada - Group B runners-up
• Brazil - Group C winners
• Morocco - Group C runners-up
• USA - Group D winners
• Germany - Group E winners
• Argentina - Group J winners
• France
• Norway
• Colombia

Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup?

• Haiti
• Turkey
• Tunisia
• Jordan
• Panama
• Qatar
• Czech Republic

Live group tables

Final Group A table

Mexico finished top of Group A with three wins from three after a 3-0 victory over Czech Republic in their final game.

South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 to clinch second spot, recovering from their difficult defeat to Mexico in the tournament’s opening match.

While South Korea must wait to learn their fate in the third-place table, Czech Republic are out having finished bottom of the group.

Final Group B table

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 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.

Final Group C

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-placed 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.

Group D

Final group matches - Friday June 26, 3am
Turkey vs USA - Los Angeles, USA
Paraguay 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.

Group E

Final group matches - Thursday June 25, 9pm
Curacao vs Ivory Coast - Philadelphia, USA
Ecuador 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 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.

Group F

Final group matches - Friday June 26, 12am
Tunisia vs Netherlands - Kansas City, USA
Japan vs Sweden - Arlington, USA

One of the more competitive groups at this World Cup. 

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 stages 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.

Group G

Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 4am
New Zealand vs Belgium - Vancouver, Canada
Egypt 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.

Group H

Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 1am
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - Houston, USA
Uruguay vs Spain - Zapopan, Mexico

Spain need to avoid defeat to Uruguay to qualify for the round of 32, with a win securing top spot.

Uruguay need to match Cape Verde’s result against Saudi Arabia to finish second and qualify automatically.

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.

Cape Verde 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.

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.

Saudi Arabia 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.

The Group H winner will face the runner-up of Group J in the round of 32.

The runner-up of Group H will play the winner of Group J.

Group I

Final group matches - Friday June 26, 8pm
Norway vs France - Foxborough, USA
Senegal vs Iraq - Toronto, Canada

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.

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.

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.

In the round of 32, the Group I winner will face a third-place team from any of group C, D, F, G or H.

The runner-up of Group I will play the runner-up of Group E.

Group J

Final group matches - Sunday June 28, 3pm
Algeria vs Austria - Kansas City, USA
Jordan vs Argentina - Arlington, USA

Argentina 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 Jordan.

Algeria and Austria 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.

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.

Argentina will face the runner-up of Group H in the round of 32.

The Group J runner-up will play the winner of Group H.

Group K

Final group matches - Sunday June 28, 12.30am
Colombia vs Portugal - Miami, USA
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan - Atlanta, USA

Colombia and Portugal have a showdown in Miami to see who finishes as Group K winner. Colombia will win the group if they can avoid defeat.

DR Congo face Uzbekistan knowing a win would seal third with four points. 

That could be enough to see them finish as one of the best third-placed teams and reach the last 32.

Uzbekistan, 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.

The Group K winner will face a third-place team from any of groups D, E, I, J or L.

The Group K runner-up will play the Group L runners-up.

Group L

Final group matches - Saturday June 27, 10pm
Panama vs England - New Jersey, USA
Croatia vs Ghana - Philadelphia, USA

England’s 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.

The Three Lions will win the group if they better Ghana’s result against Croatia when they take on already-eliminated Panama.

Croatia and Ghana 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.

Ghana should already have enough to qualify even with a defeat to Croatia, who could be eliminated with a heavy defeat to Ghana.

The Group L winner will face a third-place team from any of groups E, H, I, J or K.

The Group L runner-up will play the runner-up of Group K. (Sky Sports)