Complete World Cup 2026 Round of 32 schedule — all 16 matches, every venue, every kickoff time in ET and BST, and how to watch free. The first ever Round of 32 in World Cup history runs June 28 to July 3 across 14 stadiums in USA, Mexico and Canada.
Published: June 26, 2026 | Author: Hemim SK
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is making history in more ways than one — and one of those ways kicks off on Sunday June 28. For the first time ever in World Cup history, there is a Round of 32. Not a Round of 16, not a quarter-final — a brand new knockout round that has never existed before at any previous tournament.
This is what the expanded 48-team format delivers. Instead of the group stage flowing directly into a Round of 16 as it has done since 1986, the 2026 World Cup adds a completely new stage. Thirty-two teams. Sixteen matches. Six days of knockout football across 14 stadiums in the USA, Mexico and Canada. No draws permitted. Extra time and penalties decide any level game.
This is your complete guide to every single match — the date, the venue, the kickoff time in Eastern Time and British Summer Time, and how to watch for free wherever you are in the world.
What is the World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
The Round of 32 is the new first knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is the first time this round has ever existed in men’s World Cup history. Previously, the group stage fed directly into a Round of 16 at every tournament since 1986.
At the 2026 World Cup, 32 teams advance from the group stage — the top two from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams from across all 12 groups. All 32 play in the Round of 32, and every winner advances to the Round of 16.
No match in the Round of 32 can end in a draw. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time. If still level, the match goes to a penalty shootout. Straight knockout from the first minute.
The Round of 32 runs across six days — June 28 to July 3, 2026 — covering 14 of the 16 World Cup venues. Only Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara do not host Round of 32 matches.
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 — How to Watch FREE
Before the full schedule, here is how to watch every single match for free.
FREE in the USA:
Fox — all matches from the Round of 16 onward air on the main Fox network. For the Round of 32, matches are split between Fox and FS1.
FS1 — covers selected Round of 32 matches.
Tubi — streams selected World Cup matches completely free, no subscription needed. Go to tubi.tv or download the Tubi app.
Telemundo — Spanish language coverage, free with cable or antenna.
FREE in the UK:
BBC One and BBC iPlayer — free to air, no subscription required.
ITV1 and ITVX — free to air, alternates with BBC throughout the knockout rounds.
Every single Round of 32 match is free in the UK on either BBC or ITV.
FREE in Canada:
CTV — free to air, covering all Canada matches and key knockout fixtures.
TSN — available with cable subscription.
FREE in Australia:
SBS On Demand — all 104 World Cup matches free to stream.
FREE in India:
JioCinema — all World Cup matches free via Jio connection.
FREE in the Middle East:
beIN Sports Connect — covers all knockout stage matches across the Arab world.
FREE Worldwide:
FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com — free streaming in territories where no local rights apply.
COMPLETE ROUND OF 32 SCHEDULE — ALL 16 MATCHES
SUNDAY JUNE 28
Match 73
Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group B
Kickoff: 12pm ET / 5pm BST / 12pm local
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California
TV USA: Fox / FS1 / Tubi
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: South Africa confirmed as Group A runners-up. Canada confirmed as Group B runners-up. South Africa vs Canada is the confirmed opening match of the Round of 32 — making it Canada’s first ever World Cup knockout stage appearance.
Match 74
Brazil vs Runner-up Group F
Kickoff: 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 12pm CDT local
Venue: Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston, Texas
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Brazil confirmed as Group C winners. Sweden confirmed as Group F runners-up. This match is likely Brazil vs Sweden — a heavyweight clash in Houston in the opening days of the knockout rounds.
Match 75
Germany vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups A/B/C/D/F)
Kickoff: 4:30pm ET / 9:30pm BST
Venue: Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Germany confirmed as Group E winners. Their Round of 32 opponent will be determined by the final group standings on June 27.
Match 76
Winner Group F vs Morocco
Kickoff: 7pm CST / 8pm ET / 1am BST (June 29)
Venue: Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA), Guadalupe, Mexico
TV USA: FS1 / Telemundo
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Sweden are Group F winners if results hold. Morocco are confirmed Group C runners-up. This match takes the World Cup back to Monterrey for a knockout tie at one of the most spectacular venues in the tournament.
MONDAY JUNE 29
Match 77
Winner Group I vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups C/D/F/G/H)
Kickoff: 5pm ET / 10pm BST
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: MetLife Stadium — the venue that will host the World Cup Final on July 19 — hosts its first knockout stage match of the tournament. Norway or France as Group I winner will play their Round of 32 match here.
Match 78
Winner Group A vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups C/E/F/H/I)
Kickoff: 9pm CDT / 10pm ET / 3am BST (June 30)
Venue: Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), Mexico City, Mexico
TV USA: FS1 / Telemundo
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Mexico confirmed as Group A winners. The Azteca hosts its first knockout match of the tournament — Mexico’s Round of 32 match on their own stage in Mexico City, in front of what will be 87,000 of their own fans. One of the most anticipated individual venue-match combinations of the entire knockout stage.
Match 79 (listed as Match 81 in some sources)
USA vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups B/E/F/I/J)
Kickoff: 8pm ET / 9pm local / 1am BST (June 30)
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara, California
TV USA: Fox
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: USA confirmed as Group D winners. Their Round of 32 opponent will be one of the best third-placed teams. The USA playing in their first-ever home World Cup knockout stage match at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.
TUESDAY JUNE 30
Match 80
Winner Group L vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups E/H/I/J/K)
Kickoff: 12pm ET / 5pm BST
Venue: Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: England likely as Group L winners. Their Round of 32 match in Atlanta — at the same venue where Lamine Yamal scored his record-breaking first World Cup goal — would be England’s first knockout appearance at the 2026 tournament.
Match 82
Winner Group G vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups A/E/H/I/J)
Kickoff: 4pm ET / 9pm BST
Venue: Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle, Washington
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Iran currently lead Group G — if they hold on, this would be Iran’s Round of 32 match in Seattle. If Belgium overtake them, Belgium would play here instead.
Match 84
Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J
Kickoff: 8pm ET / 1am BST (July 1)
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California
TV USA: Fox
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Spain are on course as Group H winners. Group J runner-up is likely Austria. SoFi Stadium hosts its second Round of 32 match, making it one of only two venues (alongside AT&T Stadium in Dallas) to host multiple knockout round matches.
WEDNESDAY JULY 1
Match 83
Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L
Kickoff: 7pm ET / Midnight BST (July 2)
Venue: Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto, Canada
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
TV Canada: CTV / TSN — free
Note: Colombia likely as Group K runners-up. Croatia or Ghana as Group L runners-up. BMO Field in Toronto — the same ground that hosted Canada’s famous 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the group stage — returns for its first knockout stage match.
Match 85
Switzerland vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups E/F/G/I/J)
Kickoff: 11pm ET / 4am BST (July 2) / 8pm PT
Venue: Vancouver Stadium (BC Place), Vancouver, Canada
TV USA: FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Switzerland confirmed as Group B winners after their group stage campaign. Their Round of 32 opponent will be one of the best third-placed teams. BC Place in Vancouver — the retractable-roof stadium that hosted Australia’s famous 2-0 win over Turkiye in the group stage — hosts its first knockout match.
Match 88
Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G
Kickoff: 7pm ET / Midnight BST (July 2)
Venue: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, Texas
TV USA: Fox
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Australia are on course as Group D runners-up. Belgium or Egypt as Group G runners-up. AT&T Stadium — the World Cup’s largest venue at 94,000 capacity — hosts its second Round of 32 match, having previously seen the wild Netherlands 2-2 Japan group stage thriller.
THURSDAY JULY 2 (into Friday July 3)
Match 86
Argentina vs Runner-up Group H
Kickoff: 6pm ET / 11pm BST
Venue: Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium), Miami Gardens, Florida
TV USA: Fox
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Argentina confirmed as Group J winners after Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria and subsequent performances. Their Round of 32 match will be in Miami against the Group H runner-up — likely Uruguay or Saudi Arabia depending on final group standings. Messi playing at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami — where he plays his MLS football for Inter Miami — would be one of the great story confluences of the entire tournament.
Match 87
Winner Group K vs Best Third-Placed Team (from Groups D/E/I/J/L)
Kickoff: 8:30pm CDT / 9:30pm ET / 2:30am BST (July 3)
Venue: Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), Kansas City, Missouri
TV USA: Fox / FS1
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Note: Portugal confirmed as Group K winners after their 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan. Their Round of 32 match returns to Arrowhead Stadium — where Messi’s hat-trick was the headline moment of the group stage. The same venue. A different Portuguese captain hunting more records.
The 14 Venues Hosting Round of 32 Matches
Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium) — 2 matches (Matches 73 and 84)
Houston (NRG Stadium) — 1 match (Match 74)
Boston (Gillette Stadium) — 1 match (Match 75)
Monterrey, Mexico (Estadio BBVA) — 1 match (Match 76)
New Jersey (MetLife Stadium) — 1 match (Match 77)
Mexico City (Estadio Azteca) — 1 match (Match 78)
Santa Clara (Levi’s Stadium) — 1 match (Match 79/81)
Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) — 1 match (Match 80)
Seattle (Lumen Field) — 1 match (Match 82)
Toronto (BMO Field) — 1 match (Match 83)
Vancouver (BC Place) — 1 match (Match 85)
Dallas (AT&T Stadium) — 2 matches (Matches 87 and 88)
Miami (Hard Rock Stadium) — 1 match (Match 86)
Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium) — 1 match (Match 87)
Not hosting Round of 32: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) and Estadio Akron (Guadalajara).
Round of 32 to Final — Full Knockout Stage Timeline
Round of 32: June 28 — July 3 (16 matches)
Round of 16: July 4 — July 7 (8 matches)
Quarter-Finals: July 9 — July 11 (4 matches)
Semi-Finals: July 14 — July 15 (2 matches)
Third Place Play-Off: July 18, Miami Stadium, Miami
World Cup Final: July 19, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — 3pm ET / 8pm BST
Confirmed Teams Already Through to Round of 32
Argentina — Group J Winners
Mexico — Group A Winners
USA — Group D Winners
Canada — Group B Runners-Up (first ever World Cup knockout stage)
South Africa — Group A Runners-Up
Portugal — Group K Winners
Brazil — Group C Winners
Switzerland — Group B Winners
Germany — Group E Winners
Spain — Group H Winners (on course)
Norway or France — Group I Winners (to be confirmed June 27)
Additional qualifiers will be confirmed after the final group stage matches on June 27.
Need To Know
What is the World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
The Round of 32 is the new first knockout round of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the first time this round has ever existed in World Cup history. Thirty-two teams compete in 16 single-elimination matches from June 28 to July 3. No draws are permitted — extra time and penalties decide any level game.
When does the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 start?
The Round of 32 begins on Sunday June 28, 2026, with the first match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles at 12pm Eastern Time (5pm BST). It runs through Friday July 3.
Which stadiums host the World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
Fourteen of the 16 World Cup venues host Round of 32 matches. SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) and AT&T Stadium (Dallas) each host two matches. The only venues not hosting Round of 32 games are Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) and Estadio Akron (Guadalajara).
How can I watch the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 for free?
In the USA: Fox, FS1 and Tubi (completely free, no subscription needed). In the UK: BBC One, BBC iPlayer, ITV1 and ITVX — all free. In Canada: CTV free to air. In Australia: SBS On Demand free. In India: JioCinema free. Worldwide: FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com.
Where is Argentina playing in the Round of 32?
Argentina — confirmed Group J winners — play their Round of 32 match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on July 2. Lionel Messi would play at the stadium where he plays his MLS football with Inter Miami.
Where is Mexico playing in the Round of 32?
Mexico — confirmed Group A winners — play their Round of 32 match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 29/30. El Tri play their first home knockout stage match of the tournament at the same iconic venue where the group stage began.
Where is the USA playing in the Round of 32?
USA — confirmed Group D winners — play their Round of 32 match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on June 29. Kickoff is at 8pm ET.
Can the Round of 32 go to extra time?
Yes — no Round of 32 match can end in a draw. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time. If still level after extra time, the match goes to a penalty shootout. This applies to all 16 matches.
How many teams advance from the Round of 32?
Sixteen teams advance from the Round of 32 to the Round of 16, which begins on July 4. Each winner of a Round of 32 match has their Round of 16 destination already pre-determined by the tournament bracket.
Conclusion
The first ever Round of 32 in World Cup history begins June 28 and runs through July 3 across 14 stadiums in three countries. Messi in Miami. Mexico at the Azteca. England’s first knockout match since 2022. Switzerland’s first knockout appearance of their tournament. Canada in a knockout stage for the first time ever.
Six days. Sixteen matches. Thirty-two teams enter. Sixteen go home.
Bookmark this page — it has every match, every time, every venue and every way to watch for free. The knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup starts Sunday. Do not miss a single minute.
Related: World Cup 2026 TV Schedule — How to Watch Every Match Free Worldwide
Which Round of 32 match are you most excited about — and which team do you think will cause the biggest upset in the first knockout round? Tell us in the comments below