LOS ANGELES — The knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 began on Sunday as co-host Canada faced South Africa in the Round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium, with the full 16-match bracket now set following the completion of the group stage.
The match marked the first knockout fixture of the expanded 32-team tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Canada finished second in Group B, while South Africa placed second in Group A to advance.
FIFA confirmed the bracket structure, which pairs the top two teams from each of the 12 groups along with the eight best third-placed sides in single-elimination ties. Winners advance to the Round of 16, with the tournament culminating in the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Additional Round of 32 matches are scheduled for Monday, including Brazil against Japan in Houston, Germany versus Paraguay in Boston, and the Netherlands facing Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico.
The format features more knockout games than previous editions, reflecting the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams in the group phase. All 32 advancing teams secured their places through group-stage results completed in recent days.
Canadian coach Jesse Marsch described the occasion as a historic moment for his team, which is appearing in the knockout stage for the first time. South Africa, also making its debut in this phase, advanced after a strong recovery in Group A.
The winner of the opening tie will face the victor of the Netherlands-Morocco match in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston. Other high-profile potential matchups in later rounds include several of the sport's traditional powerhouses on converging paths.
FIFA has not reported any major incidents surrounding the start of the knockout phase. Ticket demand has been strong across venues in the three host nations, according to organizers.
The Round of 32 runs through July 3, setting the stage for an intensified phase of the competition that will determine the quarterfinalists.
