World Cup 2026: Road to the Final Begins
The 2026 FIFA World Cup expanded to 48 teams and introduced a Round of 32, which wrapped on 3 July. Now 16 nations remain. The Round of 16 runs from 4 to 7 July across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, with all three co-host nations still alive. The final takes place on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Teams still alive
16
Co-hosts in the draw
3 (USA, Canada, Mexico)
Round of 16 window
4 to 7 July 2026
Matches to the final
4 wins needed
Final date and venue
19 July, MetLife Stadium, New York
Round of 16 fixtures (all times US Eastern)
4 July 1 p.m.: Canada vs. Morocco, NRG Stadium, Houston
4 July 5 p.m.: Paraguay vs. France, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
5 July 4 p.m.: Brazil vs. Norway, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
5 July 8 p.m.: Mexico vs. England, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
6 July 3 p.m.: Portugal vs. Spain, AT&T Stadium, Dallas
6 July 8 p.m.: United States vs. Belgium, Lumen Field, Seattle
7 July 12 p.m.: Argentina/Cape Verde vs. Australia/Egypt, Atlanta
7 July 4 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Colombia/Ghana, BC Place, Vancouver
USA vs. Belgium kickoff, Lumen Field, Seattle
The co-host derby. All three host nations, USA, Canada, and Mexico, reached the knockout stage. Canada face Morocco in the opener on 4 July, Mexico host England at Azteca on 5 July evening, and the USMNT meet Belgium on 6 July. A home-continent sweep into the quarterfinals would be without precedent in World Cup history.
The Iberian clash. Portugal vs. Spain on 6 July is the standout marquee tie. If both sides win their quarterfinals and semis, they meet again only in the final. The last time they met at a World Cup was the group stage in 2018, finishing 3 to 3 in a match widely called the best of that tournament.
"We earned this. Belgium are a serious side but we have home-continent advantage and a group of players who have been building toward exactly this moment.
"Gregg Berhalter · USMNT head coach
