The group stage of the 2026 World Cup is nearing its conclusion, allowing the knockout bracket to take shape. Five Round of 32 fixtures have now been confirmed as teams secure their progression from the opening phase.
The verified ties include a meeting between the Netherlands and Morocco, while Brazil are set to face Japan. South Africa will meet Canada and Côte d’Ivoire will play Norway. The United States are scheduled to face Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Confirmed Round of 32 Fixtures
- Netherlands vs Morocco
- Brazil vs Japan
- South Africa vs Canada
- Côte d’Ivoire vs Norway
- United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Remaining Fixtures Awaiting Confirmation
Several additional fixtures have been scheduled but await the identity of their opponents. Germany, France, Argentina, Australia, Mexico and Switzerland are all assured of their place in the next phase, though they will face either third-place qualifiers or runners-up from other groups. The exact composition of these ties depends on the final results from the remaining group-stage matches.
The confirmed fixtures represent the first wave of knockout football as the tournament transitions from round-robin play to elimination matches. With progression now at stake in every encounter, the margin for error disappears for the sixteen sides already drawn into confirmed ties.
For the African teams involved, the draw offers distinct prospects. Morocco, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire each advance to face European and North American opposition. Their performances will determine the scale of African representation in the later stages of the competition.
Further match-ups will be added to the schedule as the final group tables are settled. The complete Round of 32 bracket will be locked in once all third-place calculations and runner-up positions are finalised across the remaining groups.