The Round of 32 matchups for the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup have been finalized. Unlike previous tournaments that moved directly from the group stage to the Round of 16, this year's expanded format features a Round of 32.
The Round of 32 includes 24 teams that finished first and second in their groups, along with the top eight third-place teams. While many top-ranked teams have advanced, lower-ranked teams have also made their way into the tournament, showcasing the characteristics of the expanded World Cup.
All top 10 teams in the FIFA rankings have progressed, including Argentina (1st), Spain (2nd), France (3rd), England (4th), Portugal (5th), Brazil (6th), Morocco (7th), Netherlands (8th), Belgium (9th), and Germany (10th).
The first match of the Round of 32 ended with a victory for Canada, which defeated South Africa 1-0 to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Canada is ranked 30th, while South Africa is ranked 60th.
On June 30, Brazil will face Japan, Germany will play Paraguay, and the Netherlands will take on Morocco. Brazil is ranked 6th and Japan 18th, while Germany is 10th and Paraguay is 41st. The match between the Netherlands and Morocco is particularly intriguing, as Morocco is ranked 7th and the Netherlands 8th, giving Morocco a slight edge.
On July 1, matches will feature Ivory Coast against Norway, France against Sweden, and Mexico against Ecuador. France, ranked 3rd, is the highest-ranked team in this round after Argentina and Spain, while Sweden is ranked 38th.
July 2 will see England play DR Congo, Belgium face Senegal, and the United States take on Bosnia and Herzegovina. England, ranked 4th, will compete against DR Congo (46th), while the host nation, the United States, is ranked 17th and Bosnia and Herzegovina is 64th.
On July 3, Spain will meet Austria, Portugal will clash with Croatia, and Switzerland will go up against Algeria. Spain, ranked 2nd, will face Austria (24th), and Portugal (5th) will battle Croatia (11th) in what is expected to be a closely matched game.
The final day of the Round of 32 on July 4 will feature Australia against Egypt, Argentina against Cabo Verde, and Colombia against Ghana. Argentina, ranked 1st, will play against Cabo Verde, which is ranked 67th. Colombia is ranked 13th, while Ghana is 73rd, making Ghana the lowest-ranked team in the Round of 32.
The match with the largest ranking disparity will be Argentina versus Cabo Verde, with a difference of 66 spots. The Colombia versus Ghana match also features a significant gap of 60 spots. The United States versus Bosnia and Herzegovina match will see a difference of 47 spots.
Matches with smaller ranking differences are also noteworthy. The Netherlands versus Morocco matchup features teams ranked 7th and 8th, while Australia versus Egypt pits teams ranked 27th and 29th against each other, and Ivory Coast versus Norway has teams ranked 33rd and 31st.
▲ Schedule and FIFA Rankings for the 2026 North America World Cup Round of 32
June 29, 4:00 AM
South Africa (60th) 0-1 Canada (30th)
June 30, 2:00 AM
Brazil (6th) vs Japan (18th)
June 30, 5:30 AM
Germany (10th) vs Paraguay (41st)
June 30, 10:00 AM
Netherlands (8th) vs Morocco (7th)
July 1, 2:00 AM
Ivory Coast (33rd) vs Norway (31st)
July 1, 6:00 AM
France (3rd) vs Sweden (38th)
July 1, 10:00 AM
Mexico (14th) vs Ecuador (23rd)
July 2, 1:00 AM
England (4th) vs DR Congo (46th)
July 2, 5:00 AM
Belgium (9th) vs Senegal (15th)
July 2, 9:00 AM
United States (17th) vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (64th)
July 3, 4:00 AM
Spain (2nd) vs Austria (24th)
July 3, 8:00 AM
Portugal (5th) vs Croatia (11th)
July 3, 12:00 PM
Switzerland (19th) vs Algeria (28th)
July 4, 3:00 AM
Australia (27th) vs Egypt (29th)
July 4, 7:00 AM
Argentina (1st) vs Cabo Verde (67th)
July 4, 10:30 AM
Colombia (13th) vs Ghana (73rd)
* This article has been translated by AI.
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