The World Cup Round of 32 is set for Sunday, with Canada beginning against South Africa in Southern California. The knockout stage also includes U.S.-Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mexico-Ecuador, France-Sweden, and a full slate of other marquee matches across ET times a
For the teams that survived the group stage, the message is simple: there is no next chance now. The World Cup Round of 32 begins on Sunday with Canada facing South Africa in Southern California, before a schedule packed with immediate, do-or-die matchups across the United States.
Canada kicks things off on June 28 at 3 p.m. ET against South Africa. Both nations have already made history simply by reaching this stage—this is the first time each will be in the knockout stage of the World Cup. Canada advanced as runner-up in Group B with four points, finishing with one win, one draw, and one loss. South Africa also finished second in Group A with four points, including a surprising win over South Korea.
The next day, the field widens. Brazil meets Japan on June 29 at 1 p.m. ET, with both teams also guaranteed a first-ever knockout appearance in the World Cup. Canada advanced as runner-up in Group B with four points—one win. one draw. and one loss—and South Africa was runner-up in Group A with four points. including that surprising win over South Korea.
Germany begins its knockout push on June 29 at 4:30 p.m. ET, taking on Paraguay. Germany enters off a late defeat similar to the U.S.’s late stumble, with the U.S. having already clinched its group with little to play for. Germany is a significant favourite against Paraguay, which lost to the U.S. 4-1 in its opener but steadied itself enough to move on.
Later that evening, the Netherlands face Morocco on June 29 at 9 p.m. ET. The Netherlands won Group F after drawing with Japan and outscoring Sweden and Tunisia by a combined 8-2. Morocco went unbeaten to finish second in Group C while pursuing a rare milestone: becoming the first African winner of the World Cup. Morocco reached the semifinals four years ago in Qatar.
Ivory Coast and Norway open play on June 30 at 1 p.m. ET. Norway’s route to the Round of 32 was shaped by a difficult decision around star power: coach Ståle Solbakken opted to rest Erling Haaland and all but one starter rather than trying to beat favoured France and win Group I. That choice leads to a matchup against the Ivory Coast at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
The tournament’s favourite enters its own test on June 30 at 5 p.m. ET when France plays Sweden. France went into the knockout stage as the tournament favourite and stays there after winning all three of its group games. Sweden finished the groups with a 5-1 win. a 5-1 loss. and a draw. setting up a direct clash with the French.
Mexico and Ecuador follow on June 30 at 9 p.m. ET. Mexico heads into the knockout stage on momentum. winning all three of its group stage matches for the first time at the World Cup and allowing a single goal along the way. Mexico’s scoring rhythm was blunt—outscoring opponents 6-0—and now it returns to Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for a matchup against Ecuador. Ecuador rallied to beat Germany and advance, bringing intensity of its own to the altitude.
On July 1 at 12 p.m. ET, England faces Congo DR. England’s path included a defining sequence: Jude Bellingham scored and set up Harry Kane’s goal to break a tie with Panama. and England finished first in its group after getting the job done on Saturday. Injuries are a question now going into the matchup against Congo DR, which rallied to defeat Uzbekistan and advance.
Belgium takes the stage on July 1 at 4 p.m. ET against Senegal. Belgium finished first after scoring five times in its group play finale against New Zealand. Senegal’s next challenge looks anything but friendly after playing France and Norway tough and routing Iraq to move on. The winner of the U.S.-Bosnia-Herzegovina match will face the winner of Belgium-Senegal.
The U.S. match is set for July 1 at 8 p.m. ET, when the United States takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Americans had powerful momentum from two consecutive victories, but it was stalled in the loss to Turkey. In the Round of 32, they’ll face Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is 62nd in the FIFA rankings. Bosnia finished third in Group B with four points.
Christian Pulisic’s tournament involvement has been disrupted by injury. He entered as a substitute in the second half against Turkey after not playing since leaving the opening win over Paraguay at halftime with a calf injury. Even with the stoppage, the U.S. had a message that carried through the week: “We play every game like a knockout game,” said U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who scored against Turkey. “You saw that in our intensity and the way we worked. For us, it’s keep doing what we’ve been doing.”.
Spain vs. Austria arrives on July 2 at 3 p.m. ET. Spain bounced back from a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in its first game to win its group. sending two-time champion Uruguay home in the process. Austria tied it late after falling behind earlier in stoppage time to play Algeria to a 3-3 draw on Saturday night. setting up this matchup.
Portugal meets Croatia on July 2 at 7 p.m. ET. Portugal, tied 0-0 with Colombia on Saturday night, finished second in the group behind Cristiano Ronaldo. The tie means the knockout path could include a difficult run-in with neighbour Spain for a spot in the quarterfinals. Croatia secured that tournament positioning by defeating Ghana hours earlier.
Switzerland and Algeria close out the July 2 slate on July 2 at 11 p.m. ET. The spot at the start of this story was supposed to be Canada’s in Vancouver. but Switzerland winning the teams’ head-to-head matchup there and finishing ahead in the group gave the Swiss a plum spot. Algeria took a late lead on Austria before allowing the tying goal in the final minutes. producing a 3-3 draw and getting both teams in while eliminating Iran.
Australia’s Round of 32 matchup comes on July 3 at 2 p.m. ET against Egypt. This could be among the most evenly matched fixtures in the round of 32: Australia beat Turkey. lost to the U.S. and drew with Paraguay. Egypt advanced as the second-place team in Group G after a late goal by Iran on Friday night was called back for offside.
Argentina begins its knockout stage on July 3 at 6 p.m. ET against Cape Verde. Defending champion Argentina faces the smallest country to qualify for the knockout stage at a World Cup, with Cape Verde entering as a massive underdog.
Colombia and Ghana wrap the list on July 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET. Passing Portugal for first in the group allows Colombia to open against Ghana. Ghana entered with the lowest FIFA ranking at No. 74 and also played England to a scoreless tie.
The schedule is set, the venues are locked in, and the stakes are immediate from the first whistle. In a tournament built on margins, the Round of 32 doesn’t ask who belongs—it demands who can survive.
World Cup Round of 32 Canada vs South Africa United States vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Mexico vs Ecuador France vs Sweden Netherlands vs Morocco
Wait Canada vs South Africa is in SoCal? Wild.
So the US is playing Bosnia-Herzegovina Sunday too? I swear they said something else last week. Either way, do-or-die already makes it sound like someone’s about to crash out.
Canada being in the Round of 32 like that is crazy, they always feel like a minor team to me. But then it says both nations made history by reaching knockout stage… so does that mean South Africa has never watched soccer before? Lol
I don’t even care about Canada/South Africa, I’m just looking at the times. Why is everything spread across ET? Like I’m trying to plan my day and it’s like nonstop “marquee matchups” across the US. Also Mexico vs Ecuador and France vs Sweden… that sounds like a bracket someone made in a dream, not real life.