World Cup 2026 Round of 16
The Round of 16 runs from 4 to 7 July 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Eight matches decide the last eight, and every side that reaches this round has already won a Round of 32 tie. All eight ties are now confirmed — headlined by co-hosts Mexico v England at the Estadio Azteca, an Iberian derby between Portugal and Spain in Dallas, a 2014 rematch as the USA face Belgium in Seattle, and holders Argentina against Salah’s Egypt. Here is the full bracket, every date, venue and UK kick-off time, the knockout rules and our odds to reach the MetLife final on 19 July.
Updated 4 July 2026 · Alex Thompson · World Cup 2026 Hub
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What Is the Round of 16?
The Round of 16 is the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The winners of the 16 Round of 32 ties advance here, so the field shrinks from 32 sides to the teams chasing a quarter-final place. With 48 nations and the new Round of 32, this is no longer the opening knockout round. Every team that arrives has already won a knockout game, which sharpens the standard from the first whistle.
The ties run as single-elimination games. Level after 90 minutes brings 30 minutes of extra time, and a penalty shootout settles any match still level after that. There are no replays. The eight winners move into the quarter-finals (9–11 July), and the losers go home.
Because each side has already cleared a Round of 32 tie, you read form differently here. A team that needed penalties to escape the last round may arrive tired; a side that won comfortably keeps its edge. Track how every team got here through our Round of 32 guide, and for the shootout angles that decide tight ties, our penalty shootout betting guide ranks the nations and goalkeepers.
Round of 16 Bracket & Schedule
All eight ties are now confirmed, in match order, with dates, UK kick-off times and host venues. Where our full match preview is published, the fixture links straight to it. Every game is live in the UK on BBC or ITV.
| Match | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Paraguay v FrancePreview → | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 90 | Canada v MoroccoPreview → | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 91 | Brazil v NorwayPreview → | MetLife, New Jersey |
| 92 | Mexico v EnglandPreview → | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 93 | Portugal v SpainPreview → | AT&T, Arlington |
| 94 | USA v BelgiumPreview → | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 95 | Argentina v EgyptPreview → | Mercedes-Benz, Atlanta |
| 96 | Switzerland v ColombiaPreview → | BC Place, Vancouver |
Kick-off times are UK (BST). Two ties kick off at 1:00am BST in the small hours: Mexico v England (Mon 6 July) and USA v Belgium (Tue 7 July). Every match streams free on BBC iPlayer or ITVX.
Round of 16 Match Previews
All eight ties are confirmed, and our full previews — prediction, odds comparison, anytime scorer picks and bet builder tips — are now live for every one:
The Round of 32 is complete and the bracket is set. The standout draws are an Iberian derby between Portugal and Spain in Dallas, holders Argentina against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in Atlanta, and Switzerland against Colombia in Vancouver. See how every side got here on our Round of 32 guide.
How the Bracket Works
The Round of 16 pairings were fixed from the moment the knockout bracket published: each tie is the winner of two specific Round of 32 matches. With all eight winners now known, the path to the final is set. The half of the draw a team lands in matters as much as its form — a strong side in a loaded quarter faces a tougher climb than a weaker one in an open section.
This half of the draw is stacked: Portugal v Spain guarantees one European heavyweight goes out in the last 16, and holders Argentina lurk on the same side. For the group picture that fed the bracket, see our groups guide, and weigh each contender’s route on the outright winner page.
Betting the Round of 16
Four markets carry the value here. The outright winner price keeps shortening as the favourites clear each round, so the early last-16 window often offers the last decent number on a serious contender. To reach the final and to reach the semi-finals reward a side sitting in a soft-looking quarter. And the individual match markets are now open on every tie, where a deep block and a shootout pedigree can drag a favourite to penalties.
Prices below are indicative outright and to-reach-the-final numbers for the leading contenders still standing. Confirm the live price with your bookmaker before staking — knockout markets move fast once teams qualify.
| Team | Win outright | Reach final |
|---|---|---|
| France | 5/1 | 11/4 |
| Spain | 11/2 | 3/1 |
| England | 7/1 | 7/2 |
| Argentina | 8/1 | 4/1 |
| Brazil | 9/1 | 9/2 |
| Portugal | 12/1 | 6/1 |
For the complete market and our analysis, see the outright winner odds page. For player markets through the knockouts, the Golden Boot odds and Best Young Player races stay live deep into July.
How We Approach Knockout Betting
Knockout football rewards caution. A 90-minute market that looks generous on a favourite often ignores the obvious: a team that only needs to survive will sit deep, soak pressure and aim for extra time. We weight three things before backing any Round of 16 tie.
Draw No Bet and double chance on a strong favourite removes the extra-time variance that 1X2 prices ignore. Under markets earn their keep when a heavy underdog parks the bus, since chances dry up and the goals come late or not at all. And to qualify rather than to win in 90 covers the side you fancy whether they win it on the night or grind it out on penalties.
We publish a pick for every last-16 tie. Build your own multis with our bet builder tips and accumulator tips, and use a welcome free bet on the last-16 weekend’s standout fixtures.
Claim a new-customer free bet and use it on the last-16 weekend.
Route to the Final
Every Round of 16 winner moves into the quarter-finals (9–11 July), then the semi-finals in Dallas and Atlanta (14–15 July), and the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. The bracket is fixed from here, so the half of the draw a team lands in shapes its odds as much as its own form. Our World Cup final betting page covers the showpiece, and the Round of 32 guide tracks the ties that fed the last 16.
Knockout & Tournament Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
The Round of 16 runs from 4 to 7 July 2026, across 8 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The quarter-finals begin on 9 July.
What are the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 fixtures?
The eight last-16 ties are: Canada v Morocco, Paraguay v France, Brazil v Norway, Mexico v England, Portugal v Spain, USA v Belgium, Argentina v Egypt and Switzerland v Colombia. They are played from 4 to 7 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Who do England play in the Round of 16?
England face co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City after beating DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32, with Harry Kane scoring twice. The tie kicks off at 1:00am BST in the early hours of Monday 6 July.
What happens if a Round of 16 match is a draw?
Knockout matches are played to a finish. If the score is level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time is played, then a penalty shootout if still level. There are no replays.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final?
The final is on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The two semi-finals are in Dallas and Atlanta on 14 and 15 July.