FIFA World Cup 2026 - Knockout stage

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is where the tournament’s history is written — and this edition makes history before a single elimination match is even played. For the first time ever, 32 nations enter an opening knockout round, making the path to the title longer and more demanding than any previous World Cup. The knockout stage runs from June 28 all the way through to July 19, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It unfolds across five rounds: the Round of 32, the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and the final. The bracket locks on June 28 (GMT) once all group matches are completed, and it does not redraw at any stage — the full path to the final is set from that moment on. Every match is winner-takes-all: if scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time follows, and if still tied, a penalty shootout decides who goes through. A team that reaches the final in 2026 will play eight total matches — one more than the seven required to win the title in any World Cup from 1998 to 2022. This page will be updated with the full schedule, confirmed fixtures, kickoff times, venues, and results for every round as the tournament progresses. Bookmark it and follow along as the road to the World Cup final unfolds.