The group stage is over, the calculations are done, and so are the surprises: the 2026 World Cup is now entering the serious part of the tournament. The official knockout-stage bracket is known, with the Round of 32 on the agenda and several fixtures already promising huge drama.
The 2026 World Cup group stage is complete: the official bracket has been released, and now the real business begins. This Sunday, June 28 at 9 p.m., South Africa and Canada will kick things off in the first knockout match. There is no longer any room for error: one defeat, and it is time to go home. After several weeks of group-stage action, the major nations will now have to live up to their status.
France, Brazil and Portugal Face Major Tests
Among the biggest fixtures, Brazil will face Japan on Monday, June 29 at 7 p.m., in what could be a tricky tie for the Seleção. France, meanwhile, have a date with Sweden on Tuesday, June 30 at 11 p.m. It is a match that will truly launch Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign, with Didier Deschamps’ side now expected to deliver after a controlled group stage.
Another highly anticipated clash is Portugal against Croatia, scheduled for the night from Friday to Saturday at 1 a.m. It will be a meeting between two experienced teams capable of deciding a match on the smallest detail. Meanwhile, DR Congo, freshly qualified, will face a huge challenge against England on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Spain will take on Austria on Thursday at 9 p.m., while Algeria, who had to fight until the very end to secure their ticket, will face Switzerland in the night from Friday to Saturday at 5 a.m. Reigning world champions Argentina will meet Cape Verde next Saturday night at midnight. And the bracket has already opened the door to a massive possibility: if they qualify, France and Germany could meet as early as the Round of 16. A huge clash that would immediately take this World Cup into another dimension. This time, there is no safety net: the tournament truly starts now.
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