World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Kicks Off With High-Stakes Matches Including Ronaldo vs Modric

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup has concluded, ushering in the knockout rounds where every match is decisive. The round of 16 begins with South Africa facing Canada on Sunday at 22:00, marking South Africa's first-ever World Cup knockout appearance. Canada, seen as the more attractive team, is favored to advance despite South Africa's surprising qualification.

Australia meets Egypt on Friday at 21:00, with Australia seeking to break past the round of 16 for the first time, while Egypt and star Mohamed Salah aim to continue their historic run. The United States, one of the tournament hosts, will play Bosnia between Wednesday and Thursday at 3:00, looking to maintain their strong group stage form against a less formidable opponent.

Other notable matches include Mexico versus Ecuador (Tuesday-Wednesday, 4:00), Belgium against Senegal (Wednesday, 23:00), and Germany facing Paraguay (Monday, 23:30). Portugal and Croatia clash in a highly anticipated game between Thursday and Friday at 2:00, spotlighting Cristiano Ronaldo's status and Portugal's depth of talent.

Top teams like France take on Sweden (Tuesday-Wednesday, midnight), England plays the Democratic Republic of Congo (Wednesday, 19:00), and Argentina faces Cape Verde (Friday-Saturday, 1:00), with Lionel Messi aiming to extend his World Cup scoring record. The Netherlands meet Morocco (Monday-Tuesday, 4:00), testing their group stage dominance against a strong Moroccan side led by Ismail Saibari.

The marquee match features Brazil versus Japan on Monday at 20:00, a rare early evening kickoff for Brazilian fans. Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, will rely on Vinicius Jr.'s pace against Japan's open, attacking style. This knockout phase promises intense drama as teams vie for World Cup glory with no margin for error.