The Round of 32 has showcased all the drama, upsets, and excitement we expected from the FIFA World Cup 2026. The tournament continues with the Round of 16, where all remaining teams are one victory away from reaching the quarterfinals. In this preview, you will find information on each matchup, expected lineups, match analysis, and predictions on which teams will win. The stakes will continue to rise as the tournament evolves, providing thrilling encounters in the FIFA World Cup glory.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Fixtures
1. Paraguay vs France
Date: 04 July 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 05:00 PM ET | 02:00 PM PT | 02:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
2. Brazil vs Norway
Date: 05 July 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 04:00 PM ET | 01:00 PM PT | 01:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford
3. Mexico vs England
Date: 05 July 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 08:00 PM ET | 05:00 PM PT | 05:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City
4. Portugal vs Spain
Date: 06 July 2026 (Monday)
Time: 03:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT | 12:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington
5. USA vs Belgium
Date: 06 July 2026 (Monday)
Time: 08:00 PM ET | 05:00 PM PT | 05:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle
6. Argentina vs Egypt
Date: 07 July 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 PM ET | 09:00 AM PT | 09:30 PM IST
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
7. Switzerland vs Colombia
Date: 07 July 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 04:00 PM ET | 01:00 PM PT | 01:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver
FIFA World Cup 2026 –Expected Lineups, Match Predictions & Winner Picks
Brazil vs Norway
Date: 05 July 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 04:00 PM ET | 01:00 PM PT | 01:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford
Brazil Expected FIFA Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Alisson Becker |
| Defenders | Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Guilherme Arana |
| Midfielders | Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães |
| Forwards | Rodrygo, Lucas Paquetá, Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel Martinelli |
Norway Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Ørjan Nyland |
| Defenders | Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjørn Heggem, David Møller Wolfe |
| Midfielders | Martin Ødegaard, Sander Berge, Patrick Berg |
| Forwards | Alexander Sørloth, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa |
Match Prediction:
Brazil, who are heavy favorites to win the round of 16 against Norway, have plenty of pedigree in this competition. They are desperate to win the World Cup again, with their last win coming 20 years ago in 2002. Vinícius Júnior, Casemiro, and Gabriel Martinelli are the key players with crucial roles against Japan in the round of 32.
Norway has also had a very successful tournament. Erling Haaland is the main reason for Norway’s success so far. He scored five goals and positioned himself as one of the favorites to win the Golden Boot. Martin Ødegaard has been creative in midfield. Norway has the attacking ability to be a tough challenge for any team.
Even though Norway will have plenty of confidence and Haaland is at a very high level, this match favors Brazil. Brazil’s squad depth and experience in performing well in pressure-packed knock-out matches give them the edge to win this match. Norway will put up a good fight, but Brazil’s sheer overall talent will probably be enough to make the difference.
The pick: Brazil
Mexico vs England
Date: 05 July 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 08:00 PM ET | 05:00 PM PT | 05:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City
Mexico Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Raul Rangel |
| Defenders | Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo |
| Midfielders | Luis Romo, Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora |
| Forwards | Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones |
England Expected FIFA Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Jordan Pickford |
| Defenders | Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly |
| Defensive Midfielders | Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson |
| Attacking Midfielders | Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon |
| Striker | Harry Kane |
Match Prediction:
Mexico’s home-field advantage will be felt at Estadio Azteca with supportive fans and favorable conditions. They will be confident heading into this match after a good showing throughout the tournament. However, facing off against one of the best lineups in the tournament, Mexico is going to face its toughest challenge.
England has also shown how strong they are in their previous match against DR Congo, sweeping to a 2-1 victory. With Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka leading the way offensively, they can score even against well-organized defenses. Even though Mexico has enough offensive talent to score, England’s defensive depth gives them an edge in this match.
This game is expected to be very competitive. However, England’s experience playing against top teams in the clutch should help them defeat the home nation and reach the quarterfinals.
The pick: England
Portugal vs Spain
Date: 06 July 2026 (Monday)
Time: 03:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT | 12:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington
Portugal Expected FIFA Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Diogo Costa |
| Defenders | João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes |
| Midfielders | João Neves, Vitinha |
| Attacking Midfielders | Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão |
| Strikers | Cristiano Ronaldo |
Spain Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Unai Simón |
| Defenders | Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella |
| Midfielders | Rodri, Pedri, Dani Olmo |
| Forwards | Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Álex Baena |
Match Prediction:
Spain vs Portugal is set for a Round of 16 matchup; both teams are looking to advance to the quarterfinals. Both have shown they can compete, but Spain has proven to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the tournament. Spain’s powerful attack on Austria, with a 3-0 win, showed their strength in both attack and defensive depth. Mikel Oyarzabal is on fire, while Lamine Yamal is providing additional creativity in attacking depth. Spain has also shown extraordinary defensive depth, conceding no goals in four matches at the World Cup.
However, Portugal can depend on Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Silva. However, it will still be hard for them to break down Spain’s defense. The strength of Spain lies in its strong defense and offensive capabilities. The Portuguese are not going to have an easy task in this game. Spain’s consistency is what makes them win every time.
The pick: Spain
Argentina vs Egypt
Date: 07 July 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 12:00 PM ET | 09:00 AM PT | 09:30 PM IST
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
Argentina Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martínez |
| Defenders | Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico |
| Midfielders | Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo de Paul |
| Forwards | Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada |
Egypt Expected FIFA Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Mostafa Shobeir |
| Defenders | Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia, Ahmed Fatouh |
| Midfielders | Marwan Attia, Hamdi Fathy |
| Attacking Midfielders | Mohamed Salah, Emam Ashour, Trézéguet |
| Striker | Omar Marmoush |
Match Prediction:
Argentinais the strongest team in this Round of 16 match, as they have been undefeated in the tournament. This shows how good they are as a team. They have good offensive players such as Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, and Enzo Fernández, who perform well under pressure. This gives them a solid balance between both attack and midfield play. Therefore, they will be challenging for the World Cup Championship title.
Although Egypt made it to the knockout stage, they have not been as convincing in their performance as Argentina. Unlike Argentina, Egypt has had inconsistent performances with a combination of wins, draws, and losses throughout the tournament. Nevertheless, players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush have shown great potential to continue to contribute offensively.
Therefore, although the Egyptian team is very resilient, Argentina has a greater overall performance, along with much more experience and depth. This gives an advantage for Argentina. Argentina will have fewer problems beating Egypt and advancing to the quarter-finals.
The pick: Argentina
Wrap-Up
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Matches are going to be an incredible experience for people around the world. Every team in the knockout stage will give its best to reach the quarter-finals. However, anything can happen in the knockout stage of football. We can expect the unexpected, as well as some shocking performances by the players in these very high-pressure situations. The teams that make use of their opportunities will move forward to lift the trophy at the FIFA World Cup. Don’t miss our FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final Matches preview, including match details, expected lineups, and game results.
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