World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Full Results, Recap and the Biggest Shocks
The World Cup 2026 Round of 32 was the first knockout round in the tournament’s history, a brand-new stage created by the expanded 48-team format, and it did not disappoint. Across six days, from June 28 to July 3, sixteen ties delivered penalty heartbreak, record-breaking milestones and the elimination of two pre-tournament favourites. This is your complete guide to the round: every result, the standout stories, and how the last 16 was decided. If you missed any of the drama, here is everything that happened.
Last updated: Monday, July 05 2026 – 03:00 AM ET
How the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 worked
The 32 teams that came through the group stage, the 12 group winners, the 12 runners-up and the eight best third-placed sides, entered a straight knockout bracket. Each tie was a one-off: level after 90 minutes meant 30 minutes of extra time, and if still tied, a penalty shootout. No replays, no away goals. The 16 winners advanced to the Round of 16, and several of them needed the very last kick to get there.
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 results in full
Here is every result from the round, day by day.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 28 | South Africa vs Canada | 0-1 |
| Jun 29 | Brazil vs Japan | 2-1 |
| Jun 29 | Germany vs Paraguay | 1-1 (Paraguay win 4-3 pens) |
| Jun 29 | Netherlands vs Morocco | 1-1 (Morocco win 3-2 pens) |
| Jun 30 | Ivory Coast vs Norway | 1-2 |
| Jun 30 | France vs Sweden | 3-0 |
| Jun 30 | Mexico vs Ecuador | 2-0 |
| Jul 1 | England vs DR Congo | 2-1 |
| Jul 1 | Belgium vs Senegal | 3-2 (after extra time) |
| Jul 1 | USA vs Bosnia | 2-0 |
| Jul 2 | Spain vs Austria | 3-0 |
| Jul 2 | Portugal vs Croatia | 2-1 |
| Jul 2 | Switzerland vs Algeria | 2-0 |
| Jul 3 | Australia vs Egypt | 1-1 (Egypt win 4-2 pens) |
| Jul 3 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | 3-2 (after extra time) |
| Jul 3 | Colombia vs Ghana | 1-0 |
Monday, June 28
- South Africa vs Canada — Stephen Eustáquio’s stoppage-time winner sends Canada to the last 16 for the first time. Canda Advance
Monday, June 29
- Brazil vs Japan — A late Gabriel Martinelli strike avoids an upset. Brazil advance
- Germany vs Paraguay — Paraguay stun Germany in the shock of the tournament. Paraguay advance (Paraguay win 4-3 pens)
- Netherlands vs Morocco — Morocco knock out the Dutch after Issa Diop’s late equaliser. Morocco advace (Morocco win 3-2 pens)
Tuesday, June 30
- Ivory Coast vs Norway — It is Norway’s first knockout win in World Cup history, and it sets up a colossal Round of 16 date with Brazil on July 5. Ivory Coast, so brave and so dominant in patches, are heartbreakingly out — a cruel end for the African champions. Norway advance
- France vs Sweden — If Norway’s win was about emotion, France’s was a cold, clinical statement of intent. After a nervy start, the tournament favourites simply took over, and Kylian Mbappé was unstoppable. His two goals fired France to a commanding 3-0 victory and sent an ominous warning to the rest of the field. France advane
- Mexico vs Ecuador — None of it changed the outcome. Mexico held firm for a 2-0 win and went on to meet England back at the Azteca, where their run finally ended. Mexico advance
Wednesday, July 1
- England vs DR Congo — Harry Kane levelled with a header in the 75th minute, then won it with a twisting finish in the 86th to complete the turnaround and send England into the Round of 16. England advance
- Belgium vs Senegal — Youri Tielemans kept his nerve to convert and complete a 3-2 win. For Belgium, a great escape; for Senegal, a brutal, cruel exit. Belgium advance
- USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina — The result gives the USMNT their first World Cup knockout victory since 2002 — a genuine landmark for the sport in America, and a statement of resilience. The only downside: Balogun is suspended for the next round. – USA advance
Thursday, July 2
- Spain vs Austria — Lamine Yamal stars as Spain cruise through. Spain advance.
- Portugal vs Croatia — Ronaldo’s first knockout goal and a Ramos stoppage-time winner. Portugal advance.
- Switzerland vs Algeria — Embolo and Ndoye seal a first Swiss knockout win in 88 years. Switzerland advance.
Friday, July 3
- Australia 1-1 Egypt (Egypt win 4-2 on penalties) — Egypt reach the last 16 for the first time in 92 years. Egypt advance.
- Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (after extra time) — Messi’s record 20th World Cup goal, but Cape Verde push the holders all the way. Argentina advance.
- Colombia 1-0 Ghana — Jhon Arias’ early header sends Colombia through. Colombia advance.
The two giants who fell
The defining story of the round was the exit of two of the biggest names in world football. On the same day, Germany and the Netherlands were both knocked out on penalties. Paraguay held Germany to a 1-1 draw and triumphed 4-3 in the shootout, while Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists, did the same to the Dutch, winning 3-2 on spot kicks after Issa Diop’s late header forced extra time. For two nations with such pedigree, it was a brutal, sudden end, and it blew the bracket wide open.
History-makers and long-awaited firsts
If some sides went home heartbroken, others wrote themselves into the record books. Canada won a World Cup knockout game for the first time in their history, beating South Africa through a late Stephen Eustaquio strike. Norway ended their own long wait for a knockout victory, with Erling Haaland scoring the winner against Ivory Coast. Switzerland finally won a knockout tie for the first time since 1938, an 88-year gap, by beating Algeria. And in perhaps the most emotional milestone of all, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia, a night that likely marked Luka Modric’s World Cup farewell.
The USA also broke a long drought, recording their first knockout win since 2002, and they did it the hard way, holding on with ten men after Folarin Balogun was sent off before Malik Tillman’s late free kick sealed it against Bosnia.
The drama that defined the round
Even the games without a shock had their moments. Belgium produced a remarkable escape against Senegal, coming from 2-0 down to score twice in the closing minutes and win 3-2 in extra time on a hotly disputed penalty. Egypt ended a 92-year wait to reach the last 16, beating Australia on penalties. And the champions, Argentina, were given the fright of their lives by the fairytale of Cape Verde. Lionel Messi scored his record-breaking 20th career World Cup goal, becoming the first player ever to reach the mark, but Cape Verde equalised twice before Argentina edged a five-goal classic 3-2 in extra time.
At the other end of the emotional scale, hosts Mexico eased past Ecuador at a roaring Estadio Azteca, though the night ended with a stoppage-time red card, while France and Spain both made statements, cruising to comfortable 3-0 wins over Sweden and Austria respectively.
Who advanced to the Round of 16
All 16 winners moved into the last 16, which runs from July 4 to July 7. The ties are Canada vs Morocco, Paraguay vs France, Brazil vs Norway, Mexico vs England, Spain vs Portugal, Belgium vs USA, Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia. For the full schedule and venues, see our Round of 16 guide, and for the complete knockout picture, our World Cup 2026 bracket. You can also revisit how every team qualified on our final group standings and track the scorers on the Golden Boot race. Official data is available on FIFA’s site.
Frequently asked questions
When was the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 played? The Round of 32 ran from June 28 to July 3, 2026, the first knockout round of the tournament.
Which big teams were knocked out in the Round of 32? Germany and the Netherlands were the biggest casualties, both losing on penalties, to Paraguay and Morocco respectively.
What was the biggest game of the Round of 32? Argentina’s 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde was a classic, featuring Messi’s record 20th World Cup goal and two Cape Verde equalisers.
How many Round of 32 ties went to penalties? Three ties were settled by shootouts: Germany against Paraguay, the Netherlands against Morocco, and Australia against Egypt.
Who advanced to the Round of 16? The 16 winners were Canada, Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France, Mexico, England, Belgium, USA, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Egypt, Argentina and Colombia.
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