World Cup 2026: Belgium and Egypt advance, nine round-of-32 ties confirmed

Group stage nears conclusion

After the completion of groups 7, 8 and 9 on the night of 26 June, 28 of the 32 spots for the knockout phase are filled. Belgium topped Group 7 with Egypt joining them in second, while Spain won Group 8 and Cape Verde caused one of the tournament’s surprises by advancing at Uruguay’s expense. In Group 9, France claimed first place, Norway second, and Senegal grabbed a decisive 5-0 win over Iraq to lock in a best-third-place berth. Among the 28 assured sides are the three host nations (the United States, Canada and Mexico), defending champions Brazil, European heavyweights Germany, Spain, France and the Netherlands, and surprise package Cape Verde, who edged out Uruguay in Group 8. Turkey’s early exit was another group-stage shock.

Known last-32 ties

Nine round-of-32 fixtures have been confirmed so far (all times local to the host cities). South Africa face Canada in Los Angeles on 28 June, Brazil play Japan in Houston on 29 June, and Germany meet Paraguay in Boston later that night. The Netherlands take on Morocco in Monterrey in the early hours of 30 June, while Ivory Coast meet Norway in Dallas later that day. France and Sweden square off in New Jersey on 1 July, the United States play Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco early on 2 July, Australia meet Egypt in Dallas on 3 July, and Argentina face Cape Verde in Miami on 4 July. The remaining seven pairings will be set once the best-third-place field is finalised and the final group standings in J, K and L are determined.

The best-third-place puzzle

With five of the eight best-third-place slots already decided (Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paraguay and Senegal), attention turns to the remaining three berths. Iran, Croatia and South Korea all sit on three points, but goal difference and fair-play tiebreakers could prove decisive as the last groups complete their matches. The criteria, in order, are goal difference, total goals, fair play points and the pre-tournament FIFA ranking. Senegal’s 5-0 rout lifted their goal difference enough to secure qualification despite only three points in group play.

Path to the final

The round of 32 runs from 28 June to 4 July across venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Winners advance to the round of 16, from which the quarterfinals begin on 9 July in Boston. Semifinals follow on 14 and 15 July, with the third-place match and the final set for 19 July in Miami and Los Angeles respectively.