2026 FIFA World Cup: The Round of 32 Has Begun!

Updated June 29, 2026, 7:38 p.m. ET

What’s Happening Right Now?

The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet — think of it as a giant soccer tournament where countries from all over the world compete to be crowned the best. The 2026 World Cup is currently in the "round of 32" stage, which is the first knockout round. That means teams are playing head-to-head, and the loser goes home!

The round of 32 officially kicked off on Sunday, June 28, with a thrilling match between Canada and South Africa. Canada won thanks to a dramatic goal by Stephen Eustaquio in stoppage time (that’s the extra minutes added at the end of the game). This victory means Canada has advanced to the round of 16 — and it’s the first time in Canadian history they’ve ever made it this far in a World Cup!

Important Point: There are 16 total spots in the round of 16. Canada has claimed the first one. That means 15 more spots are still up for grabs. By the time Monday’s three games are finished, only 12 spots will remain.

When Does Everything Happen?

Here’s a quick timeline so you don’t miss any of the action:

• Round of 32: June 28 – July 3 (ongoing right now!)
• Round of 16: July 4 – July 7 (starts on the Fourth of July!)

The round of 16 begins with two matches on July 4 — one in Houston and one in Philadelphia. The winners of those games keep moving forward in the tournament.

Round of 16 Schedule

Here’s what the round of 16 looks like so far. Remember, some matchups depend on who wins the remaining round of 32 games!

July 4

• Canada vs. Winner of Netherlands/Morocco | 1 p.m. ET | Houston
• Paraguay vs. Winner of France/Sweden | 5 p.m. ET | Philadelphia

July 5

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