The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered uncharted territory. For the first time in tournament history, 32 nations will compete in a single-elimination knockout bracket — the newly expanded Round of 32 — with every match a do-or-die affair. From June 28 to July 3, 2026, 16 fixtures across North America will decide who advances to the Round of 16 and who boards the flight home.

And for Canadian soccer fans, the moment they’ve waited decades for has finally arrived: the CanMNT will play in their first-ever World Cup knockout match.

Here is the complete knockout schedule, with dates, venues, and kickoff times:

Date: June 28, 2026
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Kickoff: 12:00 PM PDT (3:00 PM EDT)
Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal)

This is it. The moment Canadian soccer has been building toward since 1986.

Jesse Marsch’s side enters the knockout stage as Group B runners-up after a dramatic group campaign that included their first-ever World Cup point (1-1 vs Bosnia), their first-ever World Cup win (6-0 vs Qatar — the largest margin by any CONCACAF nation in World Cup history), and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Switzerland that ultimately cost them top spot.

South Africa advanced as Group A runners-up, finishing behind Mexico. The Bafana Bafana earned a crucial 1-0 victory over South Korea in their final group match to secure their place in the Round of 32, while also drawing 1-1 with Czechia and falling 2-1 to Mexico.

What to expect: Canada will be favorites on paper, buoyed by their attacking prowess — Jonathan David’s hat-trick against Qatar made him one of the breakout stars of the tournament — and the confidence of having already made history. South Africa, however, are battle-tested and will look to exploit any defensive lapses. The winner advances to face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston.

Beyond Canada’s historic debut, the Round of 32 is packed with mouthwatering matchups:

🇫🇷 France vs Sweden 🇸🇪 (June 30, East Rutherford)
Kylian Mbappé’s France, Group I winners with a perfect record (3 wins, 12 goals scored), face a Swedish side that scraped through as one of the best third-place teams. The French have been the tournament’s most dominant force.

🇧🇷 Brazil vs Japan 🇯🇵 (June 29, Houston)
Neymar’s Brazil against a disciplined Japanese side that held the Netherlands to a draw in the group stage. A clash of styles that promises fireworks.

🇵🇹 Portugal vs Croatia 🇭🇷 (July 2, Toronto)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal against Luka Modrić’s Croatia in a rematch of sorts — two European heavyweights meeting on Canadian soil. This is the only Round of 32 match played in Canada.

🇺🇸 USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 (July 1, Santa Clara)
The USMNT, who survived a dramatic final group match against Türkiye, face the team that held Canada to a draw in Toronto. A win sets up a potential blockbuster with Belgium or Senegal.

🇩🇪 Germany vs Paraguay 🇵🇾 (June 29, Foxborough)
Germany, shockingly beaten by Ecuador in their final group match, will be looking to reassert their dominance against a Paraguay side that advanced as Group D runners-up.

🇪🇸 Spain vs Austria 🇦🇹 (July 2, Inglewood)
Spain, Group H winners with a solid defensive record, face an Austrian team that fought through a tough Group J including Argentina and Algeria.

The winners of the Round of 32 advance to the Round of 16 (July 4–7), with the bracket already set:

The quarterfinals follow on July 9–11, semifinals on July 14–15, and the final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams and a Round of 32, replacing the traditional Round of 16 that began previous tournaments. The top two from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advanced — meaning 32 nations still have a chance at glory.

For Canada, this expansion was the pathway to history. Without it, their group-stage exit in 2022 would have been repeated. Instead, they are two wins away from a quarterfinal appearance on home continent soil.

All Round of 32 matches will be broadcast live on FOX and FS1 in North America, with streaming available via the FOX Sports app and FOX One. The Canada vs South Africa match kicks off at 12:00 PM PDT / 3:00 PM EDT on Saturday, June 28, 2026.