World Cup live bracket 2026: Updated standings, schedule, scenarios for Round of 32 knockouts

World Cup live bracket 2026: Updated standings, schedule, scenarios for Round of 32 knockouts originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The expanded World Cup format means lots of moving parts and changing permutations during the final round of group games.

A 48-team bracket must be reduced to 32 for the knockout rounds, meaning the top two from each of the 12 groups of four will be joined by the eight best third-place finishers.

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The placement of the third-placed teams in the bracket is something that will change depending on results elsewhere. It can all be a bit of a head scratcher.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with all the latest results and permutations from the conclusion of the group stage

JUMP TO GROUP:A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L

World Cup bracket 2026

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Below is the projected Round of 32 schedule and bracket as it stands on June 25. Teams whose place in a fixture is confirmed are listed in bold. Teams sitting in the listed position who could still finish in a different spot are listed in italics.

This list will be updated after every round of fixtures from Wednesday, June 24 to Saturday, June 27, when the group stage concludes.

DateMatchupSun., June 28South Africa (A2) vs. Canada (B2)Mon., June 29Germany (E1) vs. Paraguay (A/B/C/D/F 3)Netherlands(F1) vs. Morocco(C2)Brazil(C1) vs. Japan(F2)Tues., June 30France (I1) vs. Sweden (C/D/F/H/I 3)Ivory Coast(E2) vs. Norway (I2)Mexico (A1) vs. Scotland (C/E/F/H/I 3)Wed., July 1England (L1) vs. Cape Verde (E/H/I/J/K 3)USA (D1) vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina(B/E/F/I/J 3)Egypt (G1) vs. South Korea (A/E/H/I/J 3)Thurs., July 2Portugal (K2) vs. Ghana (L2)Spain (H1) vs. Austria (J2)Switzerland (B1) vs. Belgium (E/F/G/I/J 3)Fri., July 3Argentina (J1) vs. Uruguay (H2)Colombia (K1) vs. Croatia (D/E/I/J/L 3)Australia (D2) vs. Iran (G2)

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World Cup Group A standings and scenarios

PosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Mexico – Q9330060+62.South Africa  – Q4311123-13.South Korea3312023-14.Czechia — E1302126-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Mexico

Has qualified as group winner.

South Africa

Qualified as second-place team with win over South Korea.

South Korea

Will need help to qualify as third-place team.

Czechia

Eliminated from World Cup with 3-0 loss to Mexico.

Group A schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Thu, June 11Mexico 2, South Africa 0FINALThu, June 11South Korea 2, Czechia 1FINALThu, June 18Czechia 1, South Africa 1FINALThu, June 18Mexico 1, South Korea 0FINALFri, June 24Czechia 0 Mexico, 3FINALFri, June 24South Africa 1, South Korea 0FINAL

World Cup Group B standings and scenarios

Pos.TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Switzerland  – Q7320173+42.Canada – Q4211183+53.Bosnia and Herzegovina 4211136-14.Qatar 12021210-8

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Switzerland 

Switzerland progressed as group winners thanks to a 3-1 win over Canada in Vancouver.

Canada

Jesse Marsch’s co-hosts were forced to settle for second and will now have to hit the road, with their Round of 32 match in Los Angeles on Sunday. June 28.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia’s first World Cup win since 2014 against Qatar moved them on to four points, behind Canada on goal difference. That is likely to be enough to go through as one of the best third-place finishers

Qatar

Qatar are eliminated and have take one point from their past two World Cups, the first of those as hosts.

Group B schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Fri, June 12Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1FINALSat, June 13Qatar 1, Switzerland 1FINALThu, June 18Switzerland 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1FINALThu, June 18Canada 6, Qatar 0FINALFri, June 24Switzerland 2, Canada 1FINALFri, June 24Bosnia and Herzegovina 3, Qatar 1FINAL

World Cup Group C standings and scenarios

PosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Brazil  — Q7320171+62.Morocco -Q7320163+33.Scotland3312014-34.Haiti – E0303028-6

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Brazil

Qualified as first-place team in group.

Morocco

Has qualified as second-place team.

Scotland

Is not officially eliminated but needs a lot of help to qualify as third-place team.

Haiti

Eliminated with 0 points.

Group C schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Sat, June 13Brazil 1, Morocco 1FINALSat, June 13Scotland 1, Haiti 0FINALFri, June 19Morocco 1, Scotland 0FINALFri, June 19Brazil 3, Haiti 0FINALWed, June 24Brazil 3, Scotland 0FINALWed, June 24Morocco 4, Haiti 2FINAL

World Cup Group D standings and scenarios

PosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.United States – Q 6220061+52.Australia321102203.Paraguay3211012-14.Turkey – E0202015-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

United States

Won Group D and qualified for the knockout rounds after beating Australia 2-0 and Turkey’s loss to Paraguay.

Australia

Clinched a spot in the knockout round with Turkey’s loss to Paraguay. Can finish second in Group D with a win against Paraguay.

Paraguay

Clinched a spot in the knockout round with win against Turkey. Can finish second in Group D with a win against Australia.

Turkey

Eliminated after 1-0 loss to Paraguay

Group D schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Fri, June 12United States 4,  Paraguay 1FINALSat, June 13Australia 2, Turkey 0FINALFri, June 19United States 2, Australia 0FINALFri, June 19Paraguay 1, Turkey 0FINALThu, June 25Turkey vs. United States10 p.m.Thu, June 25Paraguay vs. Australia10 p.m.

World Cup Group E standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Germany – Q6321010462. Ivory Coast -Q 632104223. Ecuador – Q431112204. Curacao1302119-8

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Germany

Qualified for knockout round and clinched Group E with win over Ivory Coast and Ecuador’s draw against Curacao.

Ivory Coast

Moved into round of 32 with win vs. Curacao

Ecuador

Moved through to the Round of 32  as third-place team with win over Germany

Curacao 

Eliminated from World Cup

Group E schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Sun, June 14Germany 7, Curacao 1FINALSun, June 14Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0FINALSat, June 20Germany 2,  Ivory Coast 1FINALSat, June 20Ecuador 0, Curacao 0FINALThu, June 25 Ivory Coast 2, Curacao 0FINALThu, June 25Ecuador 2, Germany 14 p.m.

World Cup Group F standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Netherlands – Q7320193+52. Japan – Q5310173+43. Sweden – Q431117704. Tunisia – E02020212-10

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Sweden

Has qualified to group stage as third-place team with 1-1 draw to Japan.

Tunisia

Has been eliminated since they lost to Japan 4-0 on Saturday.

Netherlands

Clinched Group F win with 3-1 victory over Tunisia and Sweden tying with Japan.

Japan

Qualified to Round of 32 as second-place in Group F after 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Group F schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Sun, June 14Netherlands 2, Japan 2FINALSun, June 14Sweden 5, Tunisia 1FINALSat, June 20Netherlands 5, Sweden 1FINALSat, June 20Japan 4, Tunisia 0FINALThu, June 25Japan 1, Sweden 1FINALThu, June 25Netherlands 3, Tunisia 1FINAL

World Cup Group G standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Egypt4210142+22. Iran220022203. Belgium220021104. New Zealand1201135-2

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Egypt

Can clinch first place in Group G with a win over Iran in the final group stage match. Egypt can fall no further that third in the group standings but is not yet guaranteed a place in the knockouts due to tiebreakers.

Iran

Can clinch first place in Group G with a win over Egypt and a Belgium loss or draw in the final group stage match. 

Belgium

Can clinch second place in Group G with a win over New Zealand and Iran’s defeat to Egypt.

New Zealand

Can rise as high as second place in Group G with a win over Belgium and Iran’s defeat to Egypt.

Group G schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Mon, June 15Belgium 1, Egypt 1FINALMon, June 15Iran 2, New Zealand 2FINALSun, June 21Belgium 0, Iran 0FINALSun, June 21Egypt 3, New Zealand 1FINALFri, June 26Egypt vs. Iran11 p.m.Fri, June 26New Zealand vs. Belgium11 p.m.

World Cup Group H standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Spain4210151+42. Uruguay220023303. Cape Verde220022204. Saudi Arabia1201104-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Spain

Can clinch first place in Group H with a win over Uruguay in the final group stage match. A draw coupled with a Cape Verde win over Saudi Arabia would create a three-way tie atop the group.

Uruguay

Can clinch first place in Group H with a win over Spain and a Cape Verde loss or draw.

Cape Verde

Can rise to second place in Group H with a win over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay’s defeat to Spain.

Saudi Arabia

Can rise to third in Group H with a win over Cape Verde and Uruguay’s defeat to Spain.

Group H schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Mon, June 15Spain 0, Cape Verde 0FINALMon, June 15Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1FINALSun, June 21Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0FINALSun, June 21Uruguay 2, Cape Verde 26 p.m.Fri, June 26Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia8 p.m.Fri, June 26Uruguay vs. Spain8 p.m.

World Cup Group I standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. France – Q6220061+52. Norway – Q6220073+43. Senegal0202035-24. Iraq0202017-6

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

France

France qualified for the knockout round with a 3-0 victory over Iraq. It will clinch first place in the group with a win or draw against Norway in the final match.

Norway

Norway qualified for the knockout round with a 3-2 victory over Senegal. It can clinch first place in the group with a win against France in the final match.

Iraq

Will be eliminated with a loss or draw in final game

Sengal

Will be eliminated with a draw or loss to Iraq in final game

Group I schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Tue, June 16France 3, Senegal 1FINALTue, June 16Norway 4, Iraq 1FINALMon, June 22France 3,  Iraq 0FINALMon, June 22Norway 3, Senegal 2FINALFri, June 26Norway vs. France3 p.m.Fri, June 26Senegal vs. Iraq3 p.m.

World Cup Group J standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Argentina – Q6220050+52. Austria321103303. Algeria3211024-24. Jordan0202025-3

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Argentina

Won Group J and qualified for the knockout rounds after beating Austria 2-0 and Jordan’s loss to Algeria

Austria

Will qualify for Round of 32 with a win or draw against Jordan in the final group match.

Algeria

Will qualify for Round of 32 with a win against Austria in the final group match. If Algeria loses, it will come down to third-place tiebreakers.

Jordan

Eliminated with 2-1 loss to Algeria

Group J schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Tue, June 16Argentina 3, Algeria 0FINALTue, June 16Austria 3, Jordan 1FINALMon, June 22Argentina 2, Austria 0FINALMon, June 22Algeria 2, Jordan 1FINALSat, June 27Algeria vs. Austria10 p.m.Sat, June 27Jordan vs. Argentina10 p.m.

World Cup Group K standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Colombia – Q6220041+32. Portugal4210161+53. DR Congo1201112-14. Uzbekistan0202018-7

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Portugal

Will qualify as group winners if they defeat Colombia on matchday three.

Colombia

Has qualified to Round of 32. If Colombia draws/wins against Portugal in the final group-stage game, they win the group. 

DR Congo

Can qualify for the Round of 32 as a third-place team, or finish second in Group K if they outscore Portugal by 6+ goals in final match against Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan

Must beat DR Congo to have a chance of qualifying as a third-place team.

Group K schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Wed, June 17Portugal 1, DR Congo 1FINALWed, June 17Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1FINALTue, June 23Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0FINALTue, June 23Colombia 1, DR Congo 0FINALSat, June 27Colombia vs. Portugal7:30 p.m.Sat, June 27DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan7:30 p.m.

World Cup Group L standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. England4210142+22. Ghana4210110+13. Croatia3211034-14. Panama – E0202002-2

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

England

Will qualify with a win over Panama in final group match.

Ghana

Will qualify with win over Croatia in final group match.

Croatia

Will qualify with win over Ghana in final group match.

Panama

Were eliminated with los to Croatia

Group L schedule, results

Date Match Time (ET)Wed, June 17England 4, Croatia 2FINALWed, June 17Ghana 1, Panama 0FINALTue, June 23England 0, Ghana 04 p.m.Tue, June 23Croatia 1, Panama 07 p.m.Sat, June 27Panama vs. England5 p.m.Sat, June 27Croatia vs. Ghana5 p.m.

World Cup 2026 group stage tiebreakers

When wins, losses and draws alone aren’t enough to determine a group’s standings, the following tiebreaking procedure will be used. Expect these to come into play as the permutations noted above play out.

Overall goal difference: whichever team has the higher margin between how many goals they score and allow.

1. Total goals scored: whichever team scores the most goals in the group stage.
2. Head-to-head points: most points in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
3. Head-to-head goal difference: the highest margin of goals scored/against in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
4. Head-to-head goals scored: most goals in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
5. Highest team conduct score: a score that is diminished as team players/personnel get carded.
6. Higher FIFA/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking: the team with the higher international team rank will move on. If the teams somehow have the same ranking, the most recent past edition of the rankings will be examined.

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