FIFA World Cup round of 32 fixtures confirmed

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered the knockout phase. For the first time in the competition's 96-year history, 48 nations are competing for football's biggest prize, with the tournament spread across three host nations, United States, Canada and Mexico.Instead of the traditional 32-team field and 64 matches, the 2026 edition features 48 teams and a record 104 matches. Teams were divided into 12 groups of four, with the new structure requiring the introduction of a Round of 32.Previous World Cups either progressed directly from the group stage to the quarter-finals, featured a second group stage, or, in the modern era, moved straight into a Round of 16. The 2026 edition is the first men's FIFA World Cup to feature a 32-team knockout bracket.How Did Teams Qualify For The Round Of 32?Qualification for the knockout stage came through a two-step process.The top two teams from each of the 12 groups automatically progressed, accounting for 24 places. They were joined by the eight best third-placed teams, selected from the 12 teams that finished third in their respective groups.Those third-placed sides were ranked using FIFA's standard tiebreakers:Points obtainedGoal differenceGoals scoredFair play recordFIFA World Ranking (final tiebreaker)The format ensured that results across different groups remained interconnected until the final whistle of the group stage, with goal difference and even disciplinary records influencing qualification.FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 Fixtures (IST)Monday, June 2912:30 AM: Canada vs South Africa10:30 PM: Brazil vs JapanTuesday, June 302:00 AM: Germany vs Paraguay6:30 AM: Netherlands vs Morocco10:30 PM: Cote D'Ivoire vs NorwayWednesday, July 12:30 AM: France vs Sweden6:30 AM: Mexico vs Ecuador9:30 PM: England vs DR CongoThursday, July 21:30 AM: Belgium vs Senegal5:30 AM: USA vs Bosnia & HerzegovinaFriday, July 312:30 AM: Spain vs Austria4:30 AM: Portugal vs Croatia8:30 AM: Switzerland vs Algeria11:30 PM: Australia vs EgyptSaturday, July 43:30 AM: Argentina vs Cabo Verde7:00 AM: Colombia vs Ghana– with Agencies inputs --