WC26 · Day 26
knockout bracket · world cup 2026 · 32 teams to 1

The full World Cup 2026 knockout bracket.

32 teams enter the knockouts on 28 June; one lifts the trophy at MetLife Stadium on 19 July at 21:00 SAST. The bracket below is structural; slots fill as group standings resolve. 32 matches between R32 and the final. 18+. 18+ Only, no persons under 18 may bet.

28 June – 3 July

Round of 32

16 matches

  1. 1A vs 2B NRG Stadium
  2. 1C vs 2A NRG Stadium
  3. 1D vs 3E NRG Stadium
  4. 2B vs 1F NRG Stadium
  5. 1E vs 2D NRG Stadium
  6. 2F vs 3A NRG Stadium
  7. 1G vs 2H NRG Stadium
  8. 2H vs 1F NRG Stadium
  9. 1B vs 3F NRG Stadium
  10. 2A vs 3C NRG Stadium
  11. 2D vs 3B NRG Stadium
  12. 1F vs 2E NRG Stadium
  13. 2C vs 3D NRG Stadium
  14. 1H vs 2C NRG Stadium
  15. 2E vs 1F NRG Stadium
  16. 2G vs 3H NRG Stadium
4–8 July

Round of 16

8 matches

  1. W(R32-1) vs W(R32-2) AT&T Stadium
  2. W(R32-3) vs W(R32-4) AT&T Stadium
  3. W(R32-5) vs W(R32-6) AT&T Stadium
  4. W(R32-7) vs W(R32-8) AT&T Stadium
  5. W(R32-9) vs W(R32-10) AT&T Stadium
  6. W(R32-11) vs W(R32-12) AT&T Stadium
  7. W(R32-13) vs W(R32-14) AT&T Stadium
  8. W(R32-15) vs W(R32-16) AT&T Stadium
9–11 July

Quarter-finals

4 matches

  1. W(R16-1) vs W(R16-2) MetLife Stadium
  2. W(R16-3) vs W(R16-4) MetLife Stadium
  3. W(R16-5) vs W(R16-6) MetLife Stadium
  4. W(R16-7) vs W(R16-8) MetLife Stadium
14–15 July

Semi-finals

2 matches

  1. W(QF-1) vs W(QF-2) AT&T Stadium
  2. W(QF-3) vs W(QF-4) AT&T Stadium
18 July

3rd-place playoff

1 match

  1. L(SF-1) vs L(SF-2) Hard Rock Stadium
19 July

Final

1 match

  1. W(SF-1) vs W(SF-2) MetLife Stadium

How to read the bracket

  • Seeds: "1A" = winner of Group A. "2A" = runner-up of Group A. "3A" through "3L" = one of the eight best third-placed sides (which groups qualify depends on the final third-place table; FIFA's seeding chart resolves this post-group-stage).
  • Round of 32 (28 June – 3 July): 16 matches halving the field. Group winners + most runners-up + the 8 best third-placed teams.
  • Round of 16 (4–8 July): 8 matches. The first round where Edges expects most outright-favourite teams to face each other; quality of opposition rises sharply.
  • Quarter-finals (9–11 July): 4 matches. Tournament-winner price typically halves for the 8 quarter-finalists once they confirm.
  • Semi-finals (14–15 July): 2 matches. AT&T Stadium (Dallas) + Estadio Banorte (Mexico City).
  • Third-place playoff (18 July): Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens. The losers of the two semi-finals.
  • Final (19 July, 21:00 SAST): MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford NJ. The first World Cup final ever held in the United States.

Frequently asked

How does the World Cup 2026 knockout bracket work?
The 48-team format generates a knockout bracket of 32 teams (top-2 from each of 12 groups + 8 best third-placed). Round of 32 plays 16 matches between 28 June and 3 July, halving to round of 16 (8 matches, 4–8 July), then quarter-finals (4 matches, 9–11 July), semi-finals (2 matches, 14–15 July), third-place playoff (18 July) and the final (19 July at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, 21:00 SAST). All knockout matches are single-elimination with extra time + penalties as needed.
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
Sunday 19 July 2026, kick-off 15:00 EDT = 21:00 SAST. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. The first World Cup final ever held in the United States. Capacity ~82,500. Read more: /world-cup-2026/venues/metlife-stadium/.
What are the outright winner odds for World Cup 2026?
Across the SA-licensed market, Spain head the market as favourites, with France, Brazil, England and Argentina close behind and Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia and Uruguay in the next tier. The Edges desk's value reads + full per-operator price tracking: /world-cup-2026/winner-odds/.
When do the knockout fixtures get confirmed?
Each round confirms only after the prior round completes. The round of 32 confirms after the final group-stage matchday on 27 June. The bracket below is structural, once group standings resolve, the 32 group winners + runners-up + 4 best third-placed teams slot in. Edges updates the bracket daily during the tournament; bookmaker prices on knockout matches typically open within 30 minutes of the prior round concluding.
Where do the World Cup 2026 knockout matches take place?
Round of 32: NRG Stadium (Houston) hosts most R32 matches. Round of 16: AT&T Stadium (Arlington/Dallas) hosts most R16 matches. Quarter-finals + final: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford NJ). Semi-finals: AT&T Stadium + Estadio Banorte (Mexico City). 3rd-place playoff: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens). Full venue map per round on the Edges /world-cup-2026/host-cities/ page.

Read next

Bracket structure per FIFA 2026 World Cup format. Knockout match slots populate as the group stage resolves. 18+ only. 18+ Only, no persons under 18 may bet. NRGP: 0800 006 008.