2026 World Cup knockout stage begins with Round of 32

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 began Sunday with Canada facing South Africa in Inglewood, California, opening a newly expanded knockout bracket.sports.yahoo+1
The U.S. plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara, while Mexico faces Ecuador at Estadio Azteca on June 30.cbssports+1
The bracket runs through July 3, featuring heavyweight matchups including Brazil vs. Japan, France vs. Sweden, and Argentina vs. Cape Verde.sports.yahoo+1

The 2026 FIFA World Cup entered its elimination phase on Sunday, with the Round of 32 bracket now confirmed following the conclusion of the expanded 48-team group stage. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to host France vs. Sweden on Tuesday, June 30, at 5 p.m. ET as part of a packed knockout schedule that stretches through July 3.sports.yahoo+2

The Full Bracket Takes Shape

Co-host Canada opened the knockout rounds on Sunday against South Africa at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The coming days will feature matchups across North America, including Brazil vs. Japan in Houston and Germany vs. Paraguay in Foxborough on Monday, followed by three games Tuesday including the MetLife clash between France and Sweden.livenowfox+3

The United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1, in Santa Clara, California, while Mexico takes on Ecuador at Estadio Azteca on June 30. The Round of 32 concludes on Friday, July 3, with Argentina vs. Cape Verde, Colombia vs. Ghana, and Australia vs. Egypt.cbssports+2

MetLife's Road to the Final

MetLife Stadium hosted five group stage matches during the tournament and is scheduled for additional knockout fixtures before hosting the World Cup Final on July 19 at 3 p.m. ET. The venue, home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, will cap a tournament spread across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.cbssports+3

Pitch Concerns and the Dallas Debate

The selection of MetLife over AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the final has drawn renewed scrutiny. When FIFA announced the decision in February 2024, reports indicated that tournament organizers favored the New York metropolitan area's global profile over Dallas. Players from France and Brazil have criticized the pitch quality at MetLife during the group stage, with FIFA issuing a statement defending the surface as "healthy and performing as expected for elite competition".mirror+2

France manager Didier Deschamps was among those voicing concerns about the turf, though FIFA has expressed confidence the venue will be ready for the remaining six matches it is set to host.reddit+1

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