World Cup 2026: Round of 32 Kicks Off With Favorites and Underdogs Set for Battle

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is entering its thrilling Round of 32 knockout stage, a phase packed with football giants, potential dark horses, and a few fairytale stories.

South Africa's Bafana Bafana saw their World Cup journey end after a defeat to Canada in their opening knockout fixture in Los Angeles. This marks uncharted territory for both nations, as neither has previously reached this stage of the tournament.

The knockout bracket is set to deliver a series of high-stakes matches. Fans can anticipate clashes like Brazil against Japan, a rematch of a 2006 group stage game where Japan secured a 3-2 victory. Germany faces Paraguay, seeking revenge for a 2002 last-16 loss.

Potentially the tie of the round features the Netherlands, considered tournament favorites, against Morocco, a semi-finalist from four years ago bolstered by the addition of 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi. Another intriguing contest pits Erling Haaland's Norway against an Ivory Coast defense that remained unbeaten through 10 qualifiers. France's star-studded attack will be tested against Sweden, with a particular focus on the battle between Premier League champions Viktor Gyokeres and William Saliba.

The tournament continues with matches like Mexico against Ecuador and England facing DR Congo. The path to the final, scheduled for July 19 in New York New Jersey Stadium, is now clearly defined, promising an exciting conclusion to the 2026 edition.