Finally the FIFA World Cup 2026 has now moved ahead of the group stage, with 32 teams staying alive in the race to lift the prestigious title. The knockout action will kick off from June 29. Meanwhile, 16 teams have been eliminated following the first round, consisting of big sides like Uruguay and Turkey, With the Round of 32 fixtures now finalised.
No Messi vs Ronaldo in quarterfinals?
In a series of underwhelming events, a long-awaited clash between Messi's Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the quarterfinals. Portugal played a 0-0 draw against Colombia in their final group-stage game. Colombia finished atop Group K after restricting Portugal for a draw. That outcome ensured that Argentina and Portugal will not face each other in the quarterfinals, as both of the sides were placed on opposites sides of the draw until the final.
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If both footballing icons are to meet on the World Cup stage for the very first time, they will now have to play their respective sides all the way to the title clash. Portugal's route could include difficult games against Spain and France, while Argentina may have to overcome the challenges posed by Norway, Colombia and England to reach the final.
Teams to face elimination from FIFA World Cup 2026:
A total of 16 countries saw their campaigns at the FIFA World Cup 2026 to an end. The teams eliminated before the knockout rounds are South Korea, Czech Republic, Qatar, Scotland, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, Iran, New Zealand, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Panama.
| Date (IST) | Matchup | Time (IST) | Stadium / Venue |
| Monday, June 29 | South Africa vs Canada | 12:30 AM (Midnight) | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
| Monday, June 29 | Brazil vs Japan | 10:30 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas |
| Tuesday, June 30 | Germany vs Paraguay | 02:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Tuesday, June 30 | Netherlands vs Morocco | 06:30 AM | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico |
| Tuesday, June 30 | Ivory Coast vs Norway | 10:30 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Wednesday, July 1 | France vs Sweden | 02:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Wednesday, July 1 | Mexico vs Ecuador | 06:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Wednesday, July 1 | England vs DR Congo | 09:30 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Thursday, July 2 | Belgium vs Senegal | 01:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington |
| Thursday, July 2 | USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina | 05:30 AM | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California |
| Friday, July 3 | Spain vs Austria | 12:30 AM (Midnight) | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California |
| Friday, July 3 | Portugal vs Croatia | 04:30 AM | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada |
| Friday, July 3 | Switzerland vs Algeria | 08:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver, Canada |
| Friday, July 3 | Australia vs Egypt | 11:30 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Saturday, July 4 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | 03:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida |
| Saturday, July 4 | Colombia vs Ghana | 07:00 AM | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri |