The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered its most exciting phase as the Round of 32 has produced dramatic finishes, penalty shootouts and stunning upsets.
With the tournament featuring 48 teams for the first time, the newly introduced Round of 32 has added another layer of excitement before the Round of 16. Fans have already witnessed several unforgettable matches, while some of football’s biggest nations have crashed out earlier than expected.
So far, 10 teams have secured their place in the Round of 16, while six knockout matches are still to be played.
Biggest surprises of the Round of 32
The knockout stage has already produced several major upsets. Four-time world champions Germany were knocked out after losing to Paraguay in a penalty shootout. Another European giant, Netherlands, also suffered an early exit after Morocco won a tense shootout.
These results have shown that every team is capable of causing an upset in the expanded World Cup format.
Five most exciting Round of 32 matches
Belgium 3-2 Senegal (After Extra Time)
Belgium looked set for elimination after trailing 2-0 until the 85th minute. Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored late goals to force extra time before Tielemans converted a penalty in the 124th minute to complete an incredible comeback.
England 2-1 DR Congo
England found themselves behind early and struggled for most of the match. Captain Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to send England into the Round of 16.
Germany 1-1 Paraguay (Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties)
Germany were left heartbroken after a controversial disallowed goal before Paraguay held their nerve in the shootout to eliminate the four-time champions.
Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (Morocco won 3-2 on penalties)
Morocco produced another memorable performance as their goalkeeper starred in the penalty shootout to send the African side into the next round.
USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
The United States played nearly 30 minutes with ten men after a red card but still managed to protect their lead and qualify comfortably.
Teams that have qualified for the Round of 16
*Six more teams will join them after the remaining Round of 32 fixtures.
Biggest upset of the tournament so far
The biggest shock has been Paraguay’s victory over Germany. Morocco’s penalty shootout win over the Netherlands is also among the tournament’s biggest surprises.
Most talked-about match
Belgium’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Senegal has become one of the biggest stories of the tournament. Trailing by two goals late in the game, Belgium completed an incredible comeback before scoring the winner in the closing moments of extra time.
Round of 32 results so far
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| South Africa vs Canada | Canada won 1-0 |
| Brazil vs Japan | Brazil won 2-1 |
| Germany vs Paraguay | Paraguay won on penalties |
| Netherlands vs Morocco | Morocco won on penalties |
| Ivory Coast vs Norway | Norway won 2-1 |
| France vs Sweden | France won 3-0 |
| Mexico vs Ecuador | Mexico won 2-0 |
| England vs DR Congo | England won 2-1 |
| Belgium vs Senegal | Belgium won 3-2 (AET) |
| USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | USA won 2-0 |
Remaining Round of 32 schedule (IST)
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| July 3 | Spain vs Austria | 12:30 AM |
| July 3 | Portugal vs Croatia | 4:30 AM |
| July 3 | Switzerland vs Algeria | 8:30 AM |
| July 3 | Australia vs Egypt | 11:30 PM |
| July 4 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | 3:30 AM |
| July 4 | Colombia vs Ghana | 7:00 AM |
Star players to watch
| Player | Country |
|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| Luka Modric | Croatia |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain |
| Granit Xhaka | Switzerland |
| Mohamed Salah | Egypt |
| James Rodriguez | Colombia |
Match everyone is waiting for
The biggest attraction of the remaining Round of 32 matches is Portugal vs Croatia. The clash could be one of the final World Cup appearances for both Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric. Having played together for Real Madrid for several years, the two legends know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, making the contest even more exciting.
Another highly anticipated fixture is Argentina vs Cape Verde, with the defending champions aiming to avoid a shock exit against the tournament debutants.
Who are the favourites to qualify?
Based on recent form and fan predictions, the favourites to reach the Round of 16 are:
- Spain
- Portugal
- Switzerland
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Australia
However, the unpredictable nature of this World Cup has shown that no result can be taken for granted.
Round of 16 schedule (IST)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Canada vs Morocco | Houston |
| July 5 | Paraguay vs France | Philadelphia |
| July 6 | Brazil vs Norway | East Rutherford |
| July 6 | Mexico vs England | Mexico City |
| July 7 | Portugal/Croatia vs Spain/Austria | Arlington |
| July 7 | USA vs Belgium | Seattle |
| July 7 | Argentina/Cape Verde vs Australia/Egypt | Atlanta |
| July 8 | Switzerland/Algeria vs Colombia/Ghana | Vancouver |
Knockout stage schedule after the Round of 16
After the Round of 16 concludes, the tournament will move into its final stages.
- Quarter-finals: July 10-12
- Semi-finals: July 15-16
- Third-place Playoff: July 19
- Final: July 20 (IST)
With several heavyweight nations still in contention and underdogs continuing to surprise, the FIFA World Cup 2026 promises even more unforgettable moments as the race for the trophy enters its decisive phase.