In brief
- The World Cup Round of 32 fixtures have been decided after the group matches finished on Sunday (AEST).
- Australia will take on Egypt at 4am on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
No more second chances.
The FIFA World Cup Round of 32 is locked in after the final group matches wrapped up on Sunday afternoon (AEST).
The knockout stage features 16 matches, beginning on Monday morning and concluding on Saturday afternoon, all live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand.
The Socceroos will be chasing their first-ever World Cup knockout victory when they face Egypt in Arlington, Texas, at 4am on Saturday (AEST).
- All the FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage on our World Cup page
- How to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on SBS
- Watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at our On Demand hub
- How to favourite your FIFA World Cup 2026 team and never miss a single moment of the action
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A record 48 teams are competing at this year's tournament, up from 32 sides at recent World Cups.
That means the top two teams from each group advance to the first knockout round, the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams by points.
From the Round of 32, the tournament becomes a straight knockout. Teams must win to advance.
Teams that qualified
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to book a place in the knockout rounds after winning all three group matches, one of only three teams to do so and without conceding a goal.
South Africa also progressed, reaching the knockout stages for the first time. South Korea and Czechia were eliminated.
Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Switzerland finished top with two wins and a draw, while co-hosts Canada placed second with a win, a draw and a loss.
It marks Canada's first appearance in the knockout rounds, with the hosts also claiming their maiden World Cup victory with a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.
Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Qatar were eliminated.
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Five-time champions Brazil topped the group with two wins and a draw. Morocco matched that record but finished second on goal difference.
Scotland, playing at their first World Cup in 28 years, endured an agonising wait before being eliminated after results elsewhere went against them. Haiti also exited.
Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay
Co-hosts the United States won the group with two wins and a loss.
Australia finished second after drawing with Paraguay, who also advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Türkiye, widely tipped to win the group, were eliminated.
Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Four-time champions Germany finished first despite losing one of their three matches.
Ivory Coast reached the knockout rounds for the first time after matching Germany's record. Ecuador progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.
World Cup debutants Curaçao, the Caribbean nation of about 150,000 people, were eliminated.
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
The Netherlands won the group with two victories and a draw.
Japan finished second with a win and two draws, while Sweden advanced as one of the best third-placed teams after recording a win, a draw and a loss. Tunisia were eliminated.
Group G: Belgium, Egypt
Belgium edged Egypt for top spot on goal difference after both finished with identical records, with a win and two draws.
Egypt held on for a 1-1 draw with Iran, whose stoppage-time winner was ruled out for offside by VAR, denying them second place.
Iran faced an agonising wait until the final group match between Austria and Algeria, which ended in a draw, sending them out of the tournament. New Zealand were eliminated.
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde
Title contenders Spain finished first with two wins and a draw. Cape Verde, one of the smallest countries competing and the fairy-tale story of this tournament, secured second spot with three draws.
Two-time champions Uruguay were eliminated, as were Saudi Arabia.
Group I: France, Norway, Senegal
France showed why they are one of the favourites, topping the group with three wins.
Norway finished second, while Senegal advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Iraq, coached by former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, were eliminated.
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria
Reigning champions Argentina topped the group with three wins and conceding only one goal.
Austria finished second after a stoppage-time equaliser against Algeria, which still qualified as one of the best third-placed teams.
Jordan were eliminated.
Group K: Colombia, Portugal, DR Congo
Colombia won the group with two wins and a draw, while Portugal placed second with a win and two draws.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo qualified as one of the best third-placed teams with a win, a draw, and a loss. Uzbekistan were eliminated.
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana
England topped the group with two wins and a draw. Croatia secured second place with two wins and a loss, while Ghana advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Panama were eliminated.
Round of 32 matches (times in AEST)
- South Africa v Canada: 5am Monday
- Brazil v Japan: 3am Tuesday
- Germany v Paraguay: 6.30am Tuesday
- Netherlands v Morocco: 11am Tuesday
- Ivory Coast v Norway: 3am Wednesday
- France v Sweden: 7am Wednesday
- Mexico v Ecuador: 11am Wednesday
- England v DR Congo: 2am Thursday
- Belgium v Senegal: 6am Thursday
- USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina: 10am Thursday
- Spain v Austria: 5am Friday
- Croatia v Portugal: 9am Friday
- Switzerland v Algeria: 1pm Friday
- Australia v Egypt: 4am Saturday
- Argentina v Cape Verde: 8am Saturday
- Ghana v Colombia: 11.30am Saturday
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
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