A Round of 16 match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 takes place on Monday 6 July 2026 in the United States. The winners advance to the quarter-finals later in the week, taking a step closer to the Final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. It is one of eight Round of 16 ties across four days of knockout action.
What is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
The Round of 16 is the second knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reducing the field from 16 teams to eight. It follows a new stage introduced for the expanded 48-team tournament: the Round of 32, which runs from 28 June to 3 July 2026. The Round of 16 matches are played over four days between 4 and 7 July at venues across the United States, with the winners advancing to the quarter-finals on 9 to 12 July.
The round is single-elimination. Thirty minutes of extra time are played if the teams are level after 90 minutes, followed by a penalty shootout if scores are still tied. Five substitutes are permitted during regulation with an additional substitution available in extra time. VAR, goal-line technology and semi-automated offside detection operate throughout the match.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match?
The match kicks off at 15:00 Eastern Time on Monday 6 July 2026. That is 20:00 BST in the UK, 21:00 CEST across most of continental Europe, 12:00 on the US West Coast, and 04:00 on Tuesday 7 July in Tokyo. The quarter-finals follow from 9 July at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match?
The match is being played in the United States at one of the 11 US venues selected for the tournament. The 16 host cities across the three co-host nations are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. Each venue has been fitted with a natural grass pitch for the tournament, including those that normally use artificial surfaces for NFL play.
FIFA confirmed the venue allocations for the knockout rounds at the tournament draw in December 2025, and the specific Round of 16 pairings are determined by the results of the group stage and Round of 32 that precede this match.
Key Contenders
The two teams meeting in this Round of 16 match are determined by the outcome of the group stage and the first knockout round. Strong candidates for a place in the Round of 16 include reigning world champions Argentina, 2022 runners-up France, five-time winners Brazil, European champions Spain and 2014 champions Germany. England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia are among the other European contenders.
The three host nations, the United States, Mexico and Canada, carry home advantage through the knockout rounds, while the expanded 48-team format means underdog nations from Africa, Asia and Concacaf have a clearer route to the knockout stages than at any previous World Cup.
How to Watch
The Round of 16 match is available on free-to-air television in most major markets. BBC or ITV carries the match in the United Kingdom, with live streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. FOX provides English-language coverage in the United States, and Telemundo and Peacock carry the Spanish-language feed. TSN and CTV share rights in Canada, RDS covers the French-language feed, and TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca share rights in Mexico. SBS has the match free to air in Australia with Optus Sport streaming, TF1 and beIN Sports share rights in France, and beIN Sports holds exclusive rights across the Middle East and North Africa.
History and Records
The Round of 16 has been a fixture of the World Cup since 1986, when the knockout phase was first expanded from eight teams to 16. Memorable matches include Argentina’s 2-1 win over Brazil in 1990 thanks to a Claudio Caniggia goal, David Beckham’s red card against Argentina in 1998, Germany’s 4-1 win over England in Bloemfontein in 2010 (the match that included Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal, later cited by FIFA as a reason to introduce goal-line technology), and Brazil’s 4-1 win over Chile on penalties in 2014. In 2022 Morocco beat Spain on penalties in Al Rayyan on their way to becoming the first African semi-finalists.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the Round of 16 are sold through FIFA.com, with hospitality packages available via On Location. Category 4 tickets reserved for residents of the three host nations started at around 390 US dollars at the initial sales phase, with Category 1 seats priced from approximately 1,045 dollars. Any remaining availability is released through FIFA’s official resale platform as the tournament progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Round of 16 match kick off?
The match kicks off at 15:00 Eastern Time on Monday 6 July 2026, which is 20:00 BST.
Where is the Round of 16 match being held?
At one of the US host venues for the 2026 World Cup, confirmed by FIFA after the draw.
How can I watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
BBC or ITV in the UK, FOX and Telemundo in the United States, TSN and CTV in Canada, and free-to-air broadcasters in most major markets.
What happens if the match is a draw?
Thirty minutes of extra time are played. If still level, a penalty shootout decides who goes through.