2026 brings the biggest knockout stage in World Cup history. With 48 teams, the top two from all 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed teams reach a brand-new Round of 32 - 32 single-elimination matches across 22 days, ending at the Final in New York / New Jersey on 19 July.
Rounds at a glance
Dates and venues are fixed; the matchups are set once the groups finish
32
Round of 32
Sun 28 Jun – Fri 3 Jul16 ties · USA · Mexico · Canada16
Round of 16
Sat 4 Jul – Tue 7 Jul8 ties · USA · Mexico · Canada8
Quarter-finals
Thu 9 Jul – Sat 11 Jul4 ties · all in the USA4
Semi-finals
Tue 14 & Wed 15 JulArlington · Atlanta3
Third place
Sat 18 JulHard Rock Stadium, Miami1
🏆 Final
Sun 19 Jul · 8pm BSTNew York New Jersey StadiumThe bracket
Live from the schedule — winners drop into the next round automatically as each tie finishes
England's road to the Final
England topped Group L — opponents fill in as the rounds are played
Group L · Winners 🦁England's road
- Round of 32 · Match 80vs DR CongoWed 1 Jul · Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Round of 16 · Match 92vs the winner of Mexico v EcuadorSun 5 Jul · Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Quarter-final · Match 99vs a side from the Brazil / Ivory Coast quarterSat 11 Jul · Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Semi-final · Match 102last fourWed 15 Jul · Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Final · Match 104🏆 World Cup FinalSun 19 Jul · New York New Jersey Stadium