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NEW DELHI: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its business end, with all 16 teams confirmed for the Round of 16 following a dramatic Round of 32 that saw heavyweights like Germany and the Netherlands crash out. Defending champions Argentina survived a scare against Cape Verde, while Colombia secured the final spot with a narrow win over Ghana.
Which teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16?
The 16 teams that have booked their places in the knockout stage are:
- Canada
- Morocco
- Paraguay
- France
- Brazil
- Norway
- Mexico
- England
- Portugal
- Spain
- United States
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Egypt
FIFA World Cup Round of 16 fixtures
The Round of 16 features several blockbuster encounters, including England taking on co-hosts Mexico and an all-Iberian clash between Portugal and Spain.
Complete Round of 16 schedule (Date and Time in IST)
Fixture Date Time (IST)
- Canada vs Morocco July 4 10:30 PM
- Paraguay vs France July 5 2:30 AM
Brazil vs Norway July 6 1:30 AMMexico vs England July 6 5:30 AMPortugal vs Spain July 7 12:30 AM- USA vs Belgium July 7 5:30 AM
Argentina vs Egypt July 7 9:30 PM- Switzerland vs Colombia July 8 1:30 AM
Biggest knockout clashes to watch
- Mexico vs England: Co-hosts Mexico face Harry Kane’s England in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Round of 16.
- Portugal vs Spain: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal meet Spain in a heavyweight Iberian showdown with major quarterfinal implications.
- Brazil vs Norway: Brazil’s attacking stars will face the challenge of Erling Haaland-led Norway.
- Argentina vs Egypt: Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina begin their title defence against a resilient Egyptian side.
How the FIFA World Cup knockout stage works
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features an expanded 48-team format. After the group stage, 32 teams entered the first knockout round, with the winners advancing to the Round of 16. From this stage onwards, the tournament follows a straight knockout format — Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final. If a match is level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
