The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 matches are confirmed after Argentina scraped past Cape Verde on Saturday to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 next knockout Round, where the defending champions will now face Egypt. The win capped a wild few days of knockout football that saw Portugal beat Croatia 2-1, Spain crush Austria 3-0, and Belgium stun Senegal with a last-gasp penalty in extra time. Germany and Netherlands, meanwhile, crashed out on penalties against Paraguay and Morocco respectively.
FIFA World Cup Round Of 16 Fixtures IST and US time
| Date (IST) | Match | Time (IST) | Time (US ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Canada vs Morocco | 10:30 PM | 1:00 PM (July 4) | Houston |
| July 5 | Paraguay vs France | 2:30 AM | 5:00 PM (July 4) | Philadelphia |
| July 6 | Brazil vs Norway | 1:30 AM | 4:00 PM (July 5) | East Rutherford |
| July 6 | Mexico vs England | 5:30 AM | 8:00 PM (July 5) | Mexico City |
| July 7 | Portugal vs Spain | 12:30 AM | 3:00 PM (July 6) | Arlington |
| July 7 | USA vs Belgium | 5:30 AM | 8:00 PM (July 6) | Seattle |
| July 7 | Argentina vs Egypt | 9:30 PM | 12:00 PM (July 7) | Atlanta |
| July 8 | Switzerland vs Colombia | 1:30 AM | 4:00 PM (July 7) | Vancouver |
Fifa World Cup 2026 Quarter Finals Date
The quarter-finals will run from July 10 to July 12, with matches set for Foxborough, Inglewood, Miami Gardens and Kansas City.
Belgium Makes A Comeback For The Ages
Belgium's win over Senegal stood out as the tie of the round. The Red Devils trailed until the 86th minute, then scored twice inside three minutes through Romelu Lukaku and captain Youri Tielemans to level the game. Tielemans was not done. He struck again in the 124th minute, from the penalty spot, in the deepest minute of stoppage time ever recorded at a World Cup. Senegal's dream ended in heartbreak. Belgium will next take on co-hosts USA in the last 16.
Ronaldo Turns Back The Clock
Portugal needed something special against Croatia, and Cristiano Ronaldo delivered. His penalty, combined with a header from Goncalo Ramos, sealed a 2-1 win. Ronaldo dedicated the victory to his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, saying, "We won to honour him." He also brushed off talk about stepping back from football after comments from his sister went viral, saying, "I don't make reckless decisions."
Spain Cruise, Argentina Sweat
Spain barely broke a sweat, thrashing Austria 3-0 to march into the Round of 16. Argentina had a tougher night. Cape Verde, the smallest nation left in the tournament, pushed the reigning champions to the brink before Lionel Scaloni's side found a way through. Argentina will now meet Egypt.
Who Else Has Made The Cut
Fifteen of the sixteen Round of 16 spots are filled. Joining Argentina, Portugal, Spain and Belgium are co-hosts Canada, along with Morocco, Paraguay, France, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, England, USA, Switzerland and Egypt. Only the winner of the Colombia-Ghana tie remains to be decided.
