World Cup Knockout Stage Schedule Revealed: Round of 16 Pairings Announced

The World Cup is entering its most anticipated phase, with the knockout stage pairings now firmly established. Fans can mark their calendars as the tournament progresses towards its climax, with the round of 16 set to kick off on July 4th.

The round of 16 will feature a series of compelling matchups. Canada will face Morocco in Houston, while Paraguay takes on France in Philadelphia. The following day, Brazil will compete against Norway in East Rutherford, and Mexico will play England in Mexico City. July 6th sees Spain facing Portugal in Arlington, and on July 7th, the United States will go head-to-head with Belgium in Seattle, Argentina will play Egypt in Atlanta, and Switzerland will meet Colombia in Vancouver.

Following the round of 16, the quarterfinals are scheduled to commence on July 9th and 10th. The winners of the Canada-Morocco and Paraguay-France matches will play each other in Foxborough, while the victors of the Spain-Portugal and United States-Belgium games will compete in Inglewood. The other quarterfinal pairings will pit the winners of the Brazil-Norway and Mexico-England matches against each other in Miami, and the winners of the Argentina-Egypt and Switzerland-Colombia games will face off in Kansas City.

The semifinals are slated for July 14th and 15th, with the winners of the Foxborough and Inglewood quarterfinals playing in Arlington, and the winners of the Miami and Kansas City quarterfinals competing in Atlanta. The tournament's third-place playoff will take place on July 18th in Miami, followed by the grand final on July 19th in East Rutherford, determining the new World Cup champion.