The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is over and the knockout bracket has been officially confirmed. Forty-eight teams entered. Thirty-two advance. Sixteen go home. And for football fans across Kenya and the entire African continent, the confirmed Round of 32 draw delivers some extraordinary matchups from England vs DR Congo and Argentina vs Cape Verde to Brazil vs Japan, France vs Sweden, and a Portugal vs Croatia clash that could define Group K and L’s legacy.
This is the complete guide to every confirmed knockout fixture all Round of 32 matches, the full bracket through to the MetLife Stadium final on July 19, and all times converted to East Africa Time (EAT) for fans in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and across the region.
❌ All 16 Teams Eliminated at the 2026 World Cup Group Stage
- Haiti
- Turkey
- Tunisia
- Jordan
- Panama
- Qatar
- Czech Republic
- Curaçao
- Iraq
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
- Scotland
- Iran
- South Korea
- Uzbekistan
Confirmed Round of 32 Fixtures — Full Schedule in East Africa Time (EAT)
Sunday June 28 (EAT)
- 🇿🇦 South Africa vs Canada 🇨🇦 — 11pm EAT, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Monday June 29 (EAT)
- 🇧🇷 Brazil vs Japan 🇯🇵 — 9pm EAT, NRG Stadium, Houston
- 🇩🇪 Germany vs Paraguay 🇵🇾 — 12:30am EAT (Tue), Gillette Stadium, Boston
Tuesday June 30 (EAT)
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands vs Morocco 🇲🇦 — 5am EAT, Estadio Akron, Guadalupe
- 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast vs Norway 🇳🇴 — 9pm EAT, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
- 🇫🇷 France vs Sweden 🇸🇪 — 1am EAT (Wed), MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Wednesday July 1 (EAT)
- 🇲🇽 Mexico vs Ecuador 🇪🇨 — 5am EAT, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- 🏴 England vs DR Congo 🇨🇩 — 8pm EAT, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- 🇧🇪 Belgium vs Senegal 🇸🇳 — midnight EAT (Thu), Lumen Field, Seattle
Thursday July 2 (EAT)
- 🇺🇸 USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 🇧🇦 — 4am EAT, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
- 🇪🇸 Spain vs Austria 🇦🇹 — 11pm EAT, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Friday July 3 (EAT)
- 🇵🇹 Portugal vs Croatia 🇭🇷 — 3am EAT, BMO Stadium, Toronto
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland vs Algeria 🇩🇿 — 7am EAT, BC Place, Vancouver
- 🇦🇺 Australia vs Egypt 🇪🇬 — 10pm EAT, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
- 🇦🇷 Argentina vs Cape Verde 🇨🇻 — 2am EAT (Sat), Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Saturday July 4 (EAT)
- 🇨🇴 Colombia vs Ghana 🇬🇭 — 5:30am EAT, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
England’s Full Confirmed Route to the 2026 World Cup Final
England topped Group L and have been handed what appears to be a manageable but deceptively dangerous knockout bracket. Here is the complete confirmed path from Atlanta to the MetLife Stadium final:
🏴 England’s Route to the 2026 World Cup Final
- Round of 32 (July 1, 8pm EAT — Atlanta): 🏴 England vs DR Congo 🇨🇩
- Round of 16 (July 6, 4am EAT — Mexico City): Winner of England/DR Congo vs Winner of Mexico/Ecuador
- Quarter-final (July 11, 1am EAT — Miami): Winner of R16 vs winner from Brazil/Japan/Ivory Coast/Norway bracket
- Semi-final (July 15, 11pm EAT — Atlanta): Winner of QF vs winner from Argentina/Cape Verde/Australia/Egypt/Switzerland/Algeria/Colombia/Ghana bracket
- 🏆 Final (July 19, 11pm EAT — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey): England’s potential opponents from the France/Germany bracket
The most striking element of England’s bracket is the potential Round of 16 clash with Mexico in Mexico City a match that would be played in front of one of the most hostile home atmospheres in international football, against the co-host nation who won all three group games. Beyond that, the quarter-final could bring either Brazil or Norway both formidable opponents before a potential semi-final against Argentina with Messi. England’s route is navigable but far from easy.
The Standout Round of 32 Clashes Every Football Fan Must Watch
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast vs Norway — July 1, 9pm EAT, Dallas
The most eagerly anticipated Round of 32 fixture. Erling Haaland returns from his bench rest against France and will be fully charged for his most important World Cup appearance yet facing Ivory Coast’s explosive Yan Diomande in what is effectively a World Cup breakout stars duel. Norway need Haaland to deliver. Ivory Coast need Diomande to continue the form that has had Liverpool and PSG fighting over his signature for £112m. This one will not disappoint.
🇫🇷 France vs Sweden — July 1, 1am EAT, New Jersey
France 10 goals in three games, Dembélé’s hat-trick still fresh arrive as overwhelming favourites against a Sweden side who scraped through as a third-placed team. With Mbappé hungry after his bar-hit 22-second cameo against Norway and Dembélé now joint Golden Boot leader, expect Les Bleus to make a statement in the knockout stage opener.
🇧🇷 Brazil vs Japan — June 29, 9pm EAT, Houston
The first genuine giant vs underdog Round of 32 clash. Ancelotti’s Brazil — tournament dark horses with Vinícius Jr, Raphinha, and a Champions League-final defensive partnership — against a Japan side that has consistently overperformed expectations at World Cups. Brazil should win — but Japan have a habit of making things uncomfortable for South American heavyweights.
🇦🇷 Argentina vs Cape Verde — July 3, 2am EAT, Miami
Messi and the holders vs the smallest nation in World Cup history. Cape Verde’s story has been extraordinary advancing from the group stage as a third-placed team. But even the most romantic neutrals must acknowledge that facing a Messi-led Argentina at the peak of his record-breaking tournament campaign is a challenge unlike any other. The gap in class will be vast. The margin of victory could be historic.
🇵🇹 Portugal vs Croatia — July 3, 3am EAT, Toronto
A mouth-watering encounter between Ronaldo’s resurgent Portugal fresh from the 5-0 Uzbekistan demolition and Croatia’s young defensive phenomenon Luka Vuskovic alongside the ageless Luka Modric. Ronaldo vs the team that handed him his record-breaking 6th World Cup goals tournament. Modric vs his last chance at a World Cup knockout stage triumph. This could be the tie of the Round of 32.
Round of 16 Fixtures — Full Schedule (EAT)
| Date (EAT) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Jul 4, 9pm EAT | South Africa/Canada vs Netherlands/Morocco | Houston |
| Sat Jul 4, 1am EAT (Sun) | Germany/Paraguay vs France/Sweden | Philadelphia |
| Sun Jul 5, midnight EAT | Brazil/Japan vs Ivory Coast/Norway | New Jersey |
| Mon Jul 6, 4am EAT | 🏴 England/DR Congo vs Mexico/Ecuador | Mexico City |
| Mon Jul 6, 11pm EAT | Portugal/Croatia vs Spain/Austria | Arlington |
| Tue Jul 7, 4am EAT | USA/Bosnia vs Belgium/Senegal | Seattle |
| Tue Jul 7, 8pm EAT | Argentina/Cape Verde vs Australia/Egypt | Atlanta |
| Tue Jul 7, midnight EAT | Switzerland/Algeria vs Colombia/Ghana | Vancouver |
Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals & the World Cup Final
Quarter-Finals
- Thu Jul 9, midnight EAT — QF1: Germany/Paraguay/France/Sweden vs South Africa/Canada/Netherlands/Morocco — Gillette Stadium, Boston
- Fri Jul 10, 11pm EAT — QF2: Portugal/Croatia/Spain/Austria vs USA/Bosnia/Belgium/Senegal — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- Sat Jul 11, 1am EAT — QF3: Brazil/Japan/Ivory Coast/Norway vs Mexico/Ecuador/England/DR Congo — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Sun Jul 12, 5am EAT — QF4: Argentina/Cape Verde/Australia/Egypt vs Switzerland/Algeria/Colombia/Ghana — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Semi-Finals
- Tue Jul 14, 11pm EAT — SF1: Winners of QF1 & QF2 — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
- Wed Jul 15, 11pm EAT — SF2: Winners of QF3 & QF4 — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
🏆 The Final
Sunday July 19, 11pm EAT 2026 FIFA World Cup Final MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
Which Teams Were Knocked Out at the 2026 World Cup Group Stage?
Sixteen teams were eliminated after the group stage the biggest group-stage exit in World Cup history given the expanded 48-team format. Notable eliminations include:
- Scotland — failed to qualify as a best third-placed team despite their 5-0 win over Haiti; the 3-0 defeat to Brazil proved fatal
- Panama — eliminated despite hosting England in New Jersey; lost all three group games
- Uruguay — shock exit for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, failing to advance from Group H
- South Korea — eliminated in Group A after failing to win enough points despite a 2-1 opening win over Czech Republic
- Curaçao — the smallest nation in World Cup history gave a gallant account of themselves but could not survive Group E
- Iran — departed Group G despite two draws; Egypt’s superior record proved decisive
Frequently Asked Questions: 2026 World Cup Knockout Bracket
Who does England play in the Round of 32?
England face DR Congo in the Round of 32 on Wednesday July 1 at 8pm EAT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. England topped Group L; DR Congo advanced as a third-placed team from Group K.
When does the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 start?
The Round of 32 begins on Sunday June 28 with South Africa vs Canada in Los Angeles (11pm EAT). The final Round of 32 match is Colombia vs Ghana on Saturday July 4 (5:30am EAT). All 16 second-round matches are played across seven days.
Who does Argentina play in the Round of 32?
Argentina face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday July 3 at 2am EAT at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Messi’s holders are heavy favourites against the tournament’s Cinderella story the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup.
When is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final takes place on Sunday July 19 at 11pm EAT at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Visit the FIFA official website for confirmed broadcast details. Kenyan fans can watch live on DStv SuperSport.
Who could England face in the quarter-finals?
If England beat DR Congo and then Mexico or Ecuador in the Round of 16, they would face the winner of the Brazil/Japan vs Ivory Coast/Norway bracket in the quarter-finals on July 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. A potential England vs Brazil quarter-final is therefore very much on the cards.
Which African teams are still in the 2026 World Cup?
Five African nations remain in the 2026 World Cup knockout stages: Morocco (Round of 32 vs Netherlands), Egypt (Round of 32 vs Australia), Senegal (Round of 32 vs Belgium), Ivory Coast (Round of 32 vs Norway), and DR Congo (Round of 32 vs England). South Africa also advanced and face Canada. It is the deepest African presence in a World Cup knockout stage in the tournament’s history.
