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 at one of Gillette Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium or Arrowhead Stadium. It is one of eight Round of 16 ties at the first 48-team World Cup.
What is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
The Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the second round of the knockout stage, following the new Round of 32 introduced for the expanded 48-team format. Sixteen teams that come through the group stage and Round of 32 are whittled to eight across four days of single-elimination knockout football from 4 to 7 July 2026.
The match is decided in 90 minutes or, if the teams are level, across 30 minutes of extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout. Five substitutes are permitted during regulation plus one additional in extra time, and VAR, goal-line technology and semi-automated offside detection are all operational.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match?
The match kicks off at 19:00 Eastern Time on Monday 6 July 2026. That is 00:00 on Tuesday 7 July BST, 01:00 CEST, 16:00 on the US West Coast, and 08:00 in Tokyo. Two Round of 16 matches are scheduled for each of 4, 5, 6 and 7 July, leading into the quarter-finals from Thursday 9 July.
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match?
The match is being played at one of the 11 US venues selected for the tournament. The 16 host cities across the three co-host nations are Atlanta, Boston (Foxborough), Dallas (Arlington), Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles (Inglewood), Mexico City, Miami (Miami Gardens), Monterrey, New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford), Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. Each match venue uses natural grass for the tournament, with temporary pitches laid over artificial surfaces where required.
FIFA confirmed the venue allocations for each knockout round at the December 2025 final draw, with the specific pairings in each match settled by the results of the group stage and Round of 32.
Key Contenders
The two teams meeting in this Round of 16 match are determined by the group-stage and Round of 32 results. Leading candidates to reach this stage include reigning champions Argentina, 2022 runners-up France, five-time winners Brazil, European champions Spain, four-time winners Germany and England. Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia are all capable of reaching the Round of 16, and the three host nations benefit from home advantage throughout the knockout rounds.
The expanded 48-team format gives nations from Africa, Asia and Concacaf a clearer route into the knockout stages than at any previous World Cup, and upsets can be expected in the earliest knockout rounds.
How to Watch
The match is available free to air in most major markets. BBC or ITV carry the match in the United Kingdom with simultaneous streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. FOX is the English-language broadcaster in the United States, with Telemundo and Peacock carrying the Spanish-language feed. TSN and CTV share rights in Canada and RDS covers the French-language feed, while TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca share rights in Mexico. SBS carries the match free to air in Australia with Optus Sport streaming. TF1 and beIN Sports share rights in France, ARD and ZDF rotate on German coverage, and beIN Sports holds exclusive rights across the Middle East and North Africa.
History and Records
The Round of 16 has existed in its current form since 1986, when the World Cup expanded its knockout stage to 16 teams. Memorable matches include Cameroon’s 2-1 win over Colombia in 1990 (Roger Milla scoring twice in extra time for the first African quarter-finalists), Brazil 4 Chile 1 in 1998, Germany 4 England 1 in Bloemfontein in 2010, and Brazil’s dramatic win over Chile on penalties in 2014. In 2022 Morocco beat Spain on penalties in Al Rayyan to launch their run to the semi-finals.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the Round of 16 are allocated through FIFA.com, with On Location providing hospitality packages. Category 4 seats reserved for residents of the three host nations started at around 390 US dollars at the opening sales phase, with Category 1 seats from approximately 1,045 dollars. Remaining inventory is released through FIFA’s official resale platform closer to the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Round of 16 match kick off?
The match kicks off at 19:00 Eastern Time on Monday 6 July 2026, which is 00:00 BST on Tuesday 7 July.
Where is the Round of 16 match being held?
At one of the 11 US host venues for the 2026 World Cup, confirmed by FIFA ahead of the tournament.
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 followed by a penalty shootout if still level.