The runners-up of Group B face the runners-up of Group A on Sunday 28 June 2026 in one of the opening fixtures of the FIFA World Cup Round of 32. The match is among the first knockout ties of the expanded 48-team tournament, launching the bracket that runs all the way to the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium.
What is the FIFA World Cup Round of 32?
The Round of 32 is a brand new knockout phase introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition to feature 48 nations. With 12 groups of four, the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed finishers advance to this first knockout round, producing 32 qualifiers playing 16 straight-elimination ties.
From the Round of 32, the tournament follows a classic single-elimination format: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place playoff and final. Every knockout tie is decided on the day, with extra time and penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes.
When is the match?
The fixture takes place on Sunday 28 June 2026. Kick-off time is confirmed in FIFA’s official knockout schedule. Round of 32 matches are distributed across several days from 28 June to 3 July 2026.
Where is the match?
The fixture is staged at one of 16 confirmed 2026 World Cup venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. Venues for specific knockout ties are assigned based on the bracket and pre-set stadium allocations.
How the bracket works
The Round of 32 pairings are pre-defined by FIFA based on which group each team finishes in and in which position. Group winners are rewarded with theoretically easier opponents, typically facing lower-ranked qualifiers from across the bracket. In this fixture, the second-placed team from Group B meets the second-placed team from Group A, producing a tie between two sides who finished as runners-up in the opening rounds.
The identity of both teams depends entirely on the outcome of the final group matchdays on 26 and 27 June 2026. Until then, the matchup is listed by group position rather than team name.
How to Watch
UK viewers can watch on the BBC or ITV, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. US coverage is shared between Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish, on Fox Sports and Peacock. Canadian fans watch via CTV, TSN and RDS. SBS carries free-to-air coverage in Australia. FIFA+ offers official highlights worldwide.
History and Records
This is the first ever Round of 32 at a FIFA World Cup. Previous editions of the tournament used a 32-team format beginning at the Round of 16. The 2026 expansion to 48 teams, agreed by FIFA in 2017, is the largest structural change since the 1998 move to 32 nations.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for knockout fixtures are sold through FIFA.com/tickets. Knockout-stage sales are typically more restricted than group-stage windows, with a mix of ballots, conditional sales tied to specific groups, and hospitality packages. Resale windows are also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the match?
Sunday 28 June 2026. Kick-off time is confirmed in FIFA’s official schedule.
Which teams are playing?
The runners-up of Group B versus the runners-up of Group A, determined by final-day group results on 26 and 27 June.
How can I watch the match?
BBC or ITV in the UK, Fox or Telemundo in the US, CTV and TSN in Canada, SBS in Australia.
What happens if the score is level after 90 minutes?
The match goes to extra time, and then to a penalty shootout if still level.