Football World Cup 2026
Knock-outfase
Knockout Stage Fixtures
In the knockout stage, the winner of each match advances to the next round, while the losing team is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Following the group stage, the competition continues with the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals and Semi-finals. The losing teams from the Semi-finals then compete in the Third-Place Play-off, before the two finalists meet in the World Cup Final to battle for the world title.
Round of 32 Matches
- Sun, 28 June 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in Inglewood:
Runner-up Group A - Runner-up Group B - Mon, 29 June 2026 at 19:00 (CEST) in Houston:
Winner Group C - Runner-up Group F - Mon, 29 June 2026 at 22:30 (CEST) in Foxborough:
Winner Group E - Third place Group A/B/C/D/F - Tue, 30 June 2026 at 03:00 (CEST) in Guadalupe:
Winner Group F - Runner-up Group C - Tue, 30 June 2026 at 19:00 (CEST) in Arlington:
Runner-up Group E - Runner-up Group I - Tue, 30 June 2026 at 23:00 (CEST) in East Rutherford:
Winner Group I - Third place Group C/D/F/G/H - Wed, 1 July 2026 at 03:00 (CEST) in Mexico-Stad:
Winner Group A - Third place Group C/E/F/H/I - Wed, 1 July 2026 at 18:00 (CEST) in Atlanta:
Winner Group L - Third place Group E/H/I/J/K - Wed, 1 July 2026 at 22:00 (CEST) in Seattle:
Winner Group G - Third place Group A/E/H/I/J - Thu, 2 July 2026 at 02:00 (CEST) in Santa Clara:
Winner Group D - Third place Group B/E/F/I/J - Thu, 2 July 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in Inglewood:
Winner Group H - Runner-up Group J - Fri, 3 July 2026 at 01:00 (CEST) in Toronto:
Runner-up Group K - Runner-up Group L - Fri, 3 July 2026 at 05:00 (CEST) in Vancouver:
Winner Group B - Third place Group E/F/G/I/J - Fri, 3 July 2026 at 20:00 (CEST) in Arlington:
Runner-up Group D - Runner-up Group G - Sat, 4 July 2026 at 00:00 (CEST) in Miami Gardens:
Winner Group J - Runner-up Group H - Sat, 4 July 2026 at 03:30 (CEST) in Kansas City:
Winner Group K - Third place Group D/E/I/J/L
Round of 16 Matches
- Sat, 4 July 2026 at 19:00 (CEST) in Houston:
Winner Match 73 - Winner Match 75 - Sat, 4 July 2026 at 23:00 (CEST) in Philadelphia:
Winner Match 74 - Winner Match 77 - Sun, 5 July 2026 at 22:00 (CEST) in East Rutherford:
Winner Match 76 - Winner Match 78 - Mon, 6 July 2026 at 02:00 (CEST) in Mexico-Stad:
Winner Match 79 - Winner Match 80 - Mon, 6 July 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in Arlington:
Winner Match 83 - Winner Match 84 - Tue, 7 July 2026 at 02:00 (CEST) in Seattle:
Winner Match 81 - Winner Match 82 - Tue, 7 July 2026 at 18:00 (CEST) in Atlanta:
Winner Match 86 - Winner Match 88 - Tue, 7 July 2026 at 22:00 (CEST) in Vancouver:
Winner Match 85 - Winner Match 87
Quarterfinals
- Thu, 9 July 2026 at 22:00 (CEST) in Foxborough:
Winner Round of 16 Match 1 - Winner Round of 16 Match 2 - Fri, 10 July 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in Inglewood:
Winner Round of 16 Match 5 - Winner Round of 16 Match 6 - Sat, 11 July 2026 at 23:00 (CEST) in Miami Gardens:
Winner Round of 16 Match 3 - Winner Round of 16 Match 4 - Sun, 12 July 2026 at 03:00 (CEST) in Kansas City:
Winner Round of 16 Match 7 - Winner Round of 16 Match 8
Semifinals
- Tue, 14 July 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in Arlington:
Winner Quarterfinal 1 - Winner Quarterfinal 2 - Wed, 15 July 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in Atlanta:
Winner Quarterfinal 3 - Winner Quarterfinal 4
Third Place Match
- Sat, 18 July 2026 at 23:00 (CEST) in Miami Gardens:
Loser Semifinal 1 - Loser Semifinal 2
Final
- Sun, 19 July 2026 at 21:00 (CEST) in East Rutherford:
Winner Semifinal 1 - Winner Semifinal 2
Overview
| Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 73 28.06.26, 21:00 CEST Inglewood 2A - 2B |
Match 90 04.07.26, 19:00 CEST Houston winner 73 - winner 75 |
Match 97 09.07.26, 22:00 CEST Foxborough winner 89 - winner 90 |
Match 101 14.07.26, 21:00 CEST Arlington winner 97 - winner 98 |
Match 104 19.07.26, 21:00 CEST East Rutherford winner 101 - winner 102 |
| Match 75 30.06.26, 03:00 CEST Guadalupe 1F - 2C |
||||
| Match 74 29.06.26, 22:30 CEST Foxborough 1E - 3A/B/C/D/F |
Match 89 04.07.26, 23:00 CEST Philadelphia winner 74 - winner 77 |
|||
| Match 77 30.06.26, 23:00 CEST East Rutherford 1I - 3C/D/F/G/H |
||||
| Match 83 03.07.26, 01:00 CEST Toronto 2K - 2L |
Match 93 06.07.26, 21:00 CEST Arlington winner 83 - winner 84 |
Match 98 10.07.26, 21:00 CEST Inglewood winner 93 - winner 94 |
||
| Match 84 02.07.26, 21:00 CEST Inglewood 1H - 2J |
||||
| Match 81 02.07.26, 02:00 CEST Santa Clara 1D - 3B/E/F/I/J |
Match 94 07.07.26, 02:00 CEST Seattle winner 81 - winner 82 |
|||
| Match 82 01.07.26, 22:00 CEST Seattle 1G - 3A/E/H/I/J |
||||
| Match 76 29.06.26, 19:00 CEST Houston 1C - 2F |
Match 91 05.07.26, 22:00 CEST East Rutherford winner 76 - winner 78 |
Match 99 11.07.26, 23:00 CEST Miami Gardens winner 91 - winner 92 |
Match 102 15.07.26, 21:00 CEST Atlanta winner 99 - winner 100 |
|
| Match 78 30.06.26, 19:00 CEST Arlington 2E - 2I |
||||
| Match 79 01.07.26, 03:00 CEST Mexico City 1A - 3C/E/F/H/I |
Match 92 06.07.26, 02:00 CEST Mexico City winner 79 - winner 80 |
|||
| Match 80 01.07.26, 18:00 CEST Atlanta 1L - 3E/H/I/J/K |
||||
| Match 86 04.07.26, 00:00 CEST Miami Gardens 1J - 2H |
Match 95 07.07.26, 18:00 CEST Atlanta winner 86 - winner 88 |
Match 100 12.07.26, 03:00 CEST Kansas City winner 95 - winner 96 |
||
| Match 88 03.07.26, 20:00 CEST Arlington 2D - 2G |
||||
| Match 85 03.07.26, 05:00 CEST Vancouver 1B - 3E/F/G/I/J |
Match 96 07.07.26, 22:00 CEST Vancouver winner 85 - winner 87 |
|||
| Match 87 04.07.26, 03:30 CEST Kansas City 1K - 3D/E/I/J/L |
||||
| Third place | |
|---|---|
| Match 103 18.07.26, 23:00 CEST Miami Gardens Loser 101 - Loser 102 |
-:- |
E: nach Elfmeterschießen
V: nach Verlängerung
Football World Cup 2026
Qualification for the Knockout Stage
Qualification Through 1st and 2nd Place in the Group Stage
At the conclusion of the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it becomes clear which nations have secured direct qualification for the knockout stage. The teams finishing first and second in Groups A through L automatically advance to the final tournament.
A total of 24 teams qualify directly for the knockout stage in this way. In addition, the eight best third-placed teams also progress to the final tournament. As a result, 32 nations will ultimately compete in the Round of 32.
The qualified teams will be listed in the overview below once the group stage has been completed:
| Group | 1st Place | 2nd Place |
|---|---|---|
| A | – | – |
| B | – | – |
| C | – | – |
| D | – | – |
| E | – | – |
| F | – | – |
| G | – | – |
| H | – | – |
| I | – | – |
| J | – | – |
| K | – | – |
| L | – | – |
These teams will have secured their place in the final tournament and will continue their quest for the world title in the knockout stage. The eight best third-placed teams will also receive a ticket to the Round of 32 and keep their World Cup dream alive.
Ranking of the Third-Placed Teams
The eight best third-placed teams will also qualify for the knockout stage. The ranking is determined according to the official FIFA regulations.
| Pos. | Grp. | Team | Pld. | W | D | L | Goals | GD | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
The ranking of the third-placed teams is determined using the following criteria, in the order listed below:
- Total points earned in all group matches
- Goal difference in all group matches
- Total goals scored in all group matches
- Fair Play ranking
- Drawing of lots by FIFA
Fair Play Ranking
If teams remain level, Fair Play points may become decisive:
- Yellow card 🟨: −1 point
- Indirect red card (second yellow card 🟨🟨 → 🟥): −3 points
- Direct red card 🟥: −4 points
- Yellow card 🟨 followed by a direct red card 🟥: −5 points