The FIFA World Cup 2026 knock-out phase starts with a thrilling Round of 32. The battle to reach the Round of 16 is evident in all the matches, as it is now crucial for teams. There are no second chances—one victory is enough to secure a place in the Round of 16. Whereas the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament.
This article will focus on six upcoming Round of 32 fixtures, including the schedule, line-ups, and previews of each match. In addition, considering recent performances and the squads’ strengths, we present our predictions for the winners of every match.
Knockout Stage Recap
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 has featured many exciting matches. So far, six teams have already made it to the Round of 16.
Canada secured a 1-0 win against South Africa, while Brazil beat Japan 2-1. The most shocking result of the knockout phase so far has been Germany’s elimination. Paraguay won via a thrilling penalty shoot-out, which resulted in a 1-1 draw.
Morocco went through in the penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands. Norway beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1. France had dominated the game and advanced to the Round of 16 with an impressive 3-0 win over Sweden.
The other team to go through the Round of 16 is Mexico, which defeated Ecuador 2-0. The game between England and DR Congo has not finished yet. The winner will advance to the Round of 16 to compete against Mexico.
Teams that qualified for the Round of 16 so far: Canada, Paraguay, Brazil, Morocco, Norway, France, and Mexico.
FIFA World Cup Round of 32 – Upcoming Fixtures
1. Spain vs Austria
Date: 02 July 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 03:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT | 12:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood
2. Portugal vs Croatia
Date: 02 July 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 07:00 PM ET | 04:00 PM PT | 04:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Toronto Stadium, Toronto
3. Switzerland vs Algeria
Date: 02 July 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 11:00 PM ET | 08:00 PM PT | 08:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver
4. Australia vs Egypt
Date: 03 July 2026 (Friday)
Time: 02:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM PT | 11:30 PM IST
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington
5. Argentina vs Cabo Verde
Date: 03 July 2026 (Friday)
Time: 06:00 PM ET | 03:00 PM PT | 03:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens
6. Colombia vs Ghana
Date: 03 July 2026 (Friday)
Time: 09:30 PM ET | 06:30 PM PT | 07:00 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
FIFA World Cup –Expected Lineups, Match Predictions & Winner Picks
Spain vs Austria
Date: 02 July 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 03:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT | 12:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood
Expected FIFA Lineup for Spain (4-3-3)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Unai Simón |
| Defenders | Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella |
| Midfielders | Mikel Merino, Rodri, Pedri |
| Forwards | Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena |
Expected FIFA Lineup for Austria (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Alexander Schlager |
| Defenders | Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene |
| Midfielders | Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager, Konrad Laimer, Romano Schmid, Marcel Sabitzer |
| Forward | Marko Arnautović |
Prediction:
Spain is coming into this clash with great energy, having shown great performance and consistently winning in their previous matches. Their form is finely balanced, helping them finish off the game effectively by dominating their opponents. On the other side, Austria has had their moments of brilliance but has found it hard to be consistent. They have been throwing out mixed results in their latest games.
Austria, however, has potential players who can cause trouble, but they fail to keep the same standard of play. Their change from game to game might be a concern when facing the confident Spanish team. Considering Spain’s recent form, they are the most likely to advance to the next stage.
The pick: Spain
Portugal vs Croatia
Date: 02 July 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 07:00 PM ET | 04:00 PM PT | 04:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Toronto Stadium, Toronto
Expected FIFA Lineup for Portugal (4-3-3)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Diogo Costa |
| Defenders | João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, António Silva, Nuno Mendes |
| Midfielders | João Palhinha, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes |
| Forwards | Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leão |
Expected FIFA Lineup for Croatia (4-3-3)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Dominik Livaković |
| Defenders | Josip Stanišić, Josip Šutalo, Joško Gvardiol, Borna Sosa |
| Midfielders | Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić |
| Forwards | Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Luka Ivanušec |
Prediction:
Favorites for this Round of 32 matchup, Portugal, are leveraging their superior squad depth and attacking power. Despite ending their group stage campaign with a goalless draw against Colombia, they have been playing consistently. With players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, a well-balanced squad provides them with a distinct edge.
Meanwhile, Croatia somehow managed to qualify for the knockout stage. An emphatic loss to England revealed their defensive frailties, whereas their wins over Panama and Ghana were more difficult than convincing. Even though they have experienced players, it seems that Croatia has been struggling against top-class teams.
Moreover, the head-to-head statistics show an advantage for Portugal, as they have won three of the five recent games. Portugal, with better team depth and better recent form, should not find it difficult to qualify for the Round of 16.
The pick: Portugal
Argentina vs Cabo Verde
Date: 03 July 2026 (Friday)
Time: 06:00 PM ET | 03:00 PM PT | 03:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens
Expected FIFA Lineup for Argentina (4-3-3)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martínez |
| Defenders | Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico |
| Midfielders | Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister |
| Forwards | Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez |
Expected FIFA Lineup for Cabo Verde (4-5-1)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Vozinha |
| Defenders | Steven Moreira, Roberto Lopes, Logan Costa, Stopira |
| Midfielders | Garry Rodrigues, Jamiro Monteiro, Deroy Duarte, Jovane Cabral, Telmo Arcanjo |
| Forward | Dailon Livramento |
Prediction:
As the teams enter the Round of 32, Argentina is undoubtedly the heavy favorite. The defending champions, Argentina, had a perfect group-stage record, winning all three of their matches. Their attacking brilliance and defensive solidity were top-notch. Lionel Messi continues to inspire the team, while his team delivers a lot of energy and inventive ideas. Their knack for controlling the game and turning their opportunities into goals makes them one of the best teams.
Cabo Verde has certainly been one of the biggest surprises in the competition so far. They made it to the knockout stages through the most disciplined defense and great team spirit. But in reality, their football has revolved around defending rather than threatening. And playing against a class side like Argentina is an entirely new ball game. They would look to set up their defense deep and counterattack, but holding on for 90 minutes wouldn’t be easy. Argentina’s recent results, squad depth, and attacking talent mean they are very likely to move on without much trouble.
The pick: Argentina
Colombia vs Ghana
Date: 03 July 2026 (Friday)
Time: 09:30 PM ET | 06:30 PM PT | 07:00 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
Expected FIFA Lineup for Colombia (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Camilo Vargas |
| Defenders | Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Carlos Cuesta, Johan Mojica |
| Midfielders | Jefferson Lerma, Richard Ríos, Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz |
| Forward | Jhon Durán |
Expected FIFA Lineup for Ghana (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player(s) |
| Goalkeeper | Lawrence Ati-Zigi |
| Defenders | Alidu Seidu, Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu, Gideon Mensah |
| Midfielders | Salis Abdul Samed, Thomas Partey, Ernest Nuamah, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew |
| Forward | Inaki Williams |
Prediction:
For this Round of 32 match, Colombia enters unbeaten in the group stage. The defense has performed impressively, as the team has won all matches without conceding a goal. Having James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz, and Richard Ríos, it is evident that Colombia can effectively manage possession while generating chances.
Compared to Colombia, Ghana enters the knockout phase after some inconsistent performances in the group stage. They managed to score just one goal in all three matches. Ghana will have to improve significantly in attack if they want to challenge Colombia’s defense. Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew are players who can make an impact on the game.
Having enough good players to make the game, Colombia has more advantages over Ghana. Provided that Colombia continues playing consistently, they have enough quality to move ahead.
The pick: Colombia
Closing Thoughts
The race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 championship title is in full swing. The round of 32 is being played; only the winners will get one step nearer to winning football’s most prestigious cup. Tune in for our Round of 16 analysis, predictions, and winning picks!
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