Which teams are in the World Cup round of 32, and what’s the schedule?

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificWorld CupMiddle EastExplainedOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftWorld Cup 2026Results and FixturesGroup standingsGoals and reactionLIVE: Egypt vs IranWho's in the round of 32?caret-rightSport|World Cup 2026Which teams are in the World Cup round of 32, and what’s the schedule?Cape Verde’s stunning debut headlines the team list for the World Cup knockouts, which begin on Sunday in Los Angeles. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoCape Verde players celebrate after the match as they qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup [Maria Lysaker/Reuters]By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 27 Jun 202627 Jun 2026The 48-team FIFA World Cup is nearing the end of the group stage matches and moving towards the knockout stages, beginning on Sunday. Only 32 teams will advance to the next round of football’s most prestigious tournament. The 2026 iteration in North America is the first time 48 teams have featured, and some debutants have already left their mark. Here’s what you need to know about the round of 32: The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to the knockouts. The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced at the World Cup following the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams. Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19. The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s knockout schedule is: So far, 26 teams have punched their ticket to the knockouts. They include: Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: