The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 begins on Saturday, July 4 — Independence Day in the United States — and runs through Tuesday, July 7. Eight matches will reduce the tournament from 16 to the 8 teams that will contest the quarter-finals. The bracket has already produced extraordinary drama in the Round of 32: Germany and Netherlands are gone. Morocco and Paraguay are still alive. France, Argentina, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, and the co-host USA are all still in the competition. The quarter-finals will be decided over four extraordinary days of knockout football. Here is the complete preview.
16 teams remain! Can you name all their players by jersey number? The FIFA 2026 Jersey Quiz covers all 48 World Cup nations. Test yourself on the remaining contenders!
Play the FIFA 2026 Jersey Quiz Now!
Saturday July 4 – Round of 16 Match 1 & 2
Match 1: Canada vs Morocco | 1:00 PM ET | NRG Stadium, Houston TX | 6:00 PM BST | 10:30 PM IST
Morocco’s second straight penalty shootout victim was Netherlands. Canada produced one of the Round of 32’s emotional high points — Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute winner against South Africa. This match pits Africa’s most dangerous team against a Canadian side playing on home-continent soil. Morocco’s defensive organisation against Canada’s energetic, high-pressing system creates a fascinating tactical matchup. Hakimi vs Alphonso Davies is the individual duel to watch. Our prediction: Morocco 1-0 Canada. The Atlas Lions’ defensive superiority proves decisive.
Match 2: Paraguay vs France | 5:00 PM ET | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 10:00 PM BST | 2:30 AM IST July 5
The shock of the tournament — Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties — against the tournament’s form team. France have been perfect: 9 points in the group stage, 3-0 Sweden in Round of 32, Mbappé with 6 goals. Paraguay’s penalty heroics will not repeat against a French team that Deschamps will prepare specifically to avoid a shootout. Our prediction: France 3-0 Paraguay. Mbappé scores. France march toward the quarter-finals.
Sunday July 5 – Round of 16 Match 3 & 4
Match 3: Brazil vs Norway | 4:00 PM ET | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford NJ | 9:00 PM BST | 1:30 AM IST July 6
The most anticipated Round of 16 match. Vinicius Junior vs Erling Haaland. Five-time champions vs the Golden Boot leader’s team. Brazil beat Japan 2-1 comfortably in the Round of 32; Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 with Haaland scoring. This is one of football’s great individual duels — can Haaland’s physical dominance overcome Brazil’s technically superior squad across 90 minutes? Our prediction: Brazil 2-1 Norway. Vinicius scores the decisive goal. Haaland scores but is largely contained. Brazil advance to the quarter-finals.
Match 4: Mexico vs [England/DR Congo winner] | 8:00 PM ET | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 1:00 AM BST July 6 | 5:30 AM IST July 6
Mexico playing at Estadio Azteca in the Round of 16 — the most iconic stadium in World Cup history — with an entire nation behind them. Their 2-0 win over Ecuador in Round of 32 was comfortable. England (or DR Congo if the shock continues) face the ultimate hostile away environment. If England win the Round of 32 against DR Congo, this is potentially the tournament’s most emotional match. Our prediction (assuming England progress): Mexico 2-1 England at Azteca. Home advantage proves decisive in Mexico’s biggest game in decades.
Monday July 6 – Round of 16 Match 5 & 6
Match 5: [Portugal/Croatia] vs [Spain/Austria] | 3:00 PM ET | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 8:00 PM BST | 12:30 AM IST July 7
If Spain beat Austria and Portugal beat Croatia — the most likely Round of 32 outcomes — this is a Spain vs Portugal Iberian derby in the Round of 16. The most technically gifted individual in potentially his last World Cup (Ronaldo) against the most tactically complete team and the player who represents the future (Yamal). Spain vs Portugal in the World Cup Round of 16 would be one of the tournament’s defining matches. Our prediction: Spain 1-0 Portugal. Yamal’s pace proves decisive in a tight, technical contest.
Match 6: [USA/Bosnia] vs [Belgium/Senegal] | 8:00 PM ET | Lumen Field, Seattle | 1:00 AM BST July 7 | 5:30 AM IST July 7
If the USA beat Bosnia and Belgium beat Senegal — the favoured outcomes — this is USA vs Belgium in Seattle for a place in the quarter-finals. De Bruyne’s final World Cup against Pulisic’s home-country dream. The San Francisco Bay Area match (USMNT) and the Seattle match (Round of 16) would represent consecutive American city atmospheres for the US team. Our prediction: USA 2-1 Belgium. Home advantage, crowd, and Pulisic’s quality prove decisive.
Tuesday July 7 – Round of 16 Match 7 & 8
Match 7: [Switzerland/Algeria] vs [Australia/Egypt] | ET TBC | Venue TBC
One of the tournament’s more open brackets — Switzerland vs Egypt (likely outcomes) would be a competitive, quality match. Our prediction: Switzerland 2-0 Egypt.
Match 8: [Argentina/Cape Verde] vs [Colombia/Ghana] | ET TBC | Venue TBC
Argentina vs Colombia — the South American showdown — would be one of the Round of 16’s most technically brilliant matches. Our prediction: Argentina 2-1 Colombia. Messi scores. Argentina advance to the quarter-finals where their title challenge truly begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 start?
The Round of 16 starts on Saturday, July 4, 2026 and runs through Tuesday, July 7. Eight matches over four days reduce the field from 16 to 8 quarter-finalists.
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 being played?
Round of 16 venues include NRG Stadium Houston, Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, MetLife Stadium New Jersey, Estadio Azteca Mexico City, AT&T Stadium Dallas, and Lumen Field Seattle — all in the United States and Mexico.
Who is the favourite to win FIFA World Cup 2026 at this stage?
France remain the outright favourites with Mbappé in historic form (6 goals, all-time French scoring record). Argentina and Brazil are joint second favourites. Spain, England and Norway are the other serious contenders at this stage of the tournament.
Complete Round of 16 previews, results and analysis at theOpenHandbook’s FIFA World Cup 2026 hub.
