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World Cup Round of 32 Begins June 28, USA Qualifies

6/22/2026

25 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The round of 32 knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 28, 2026.
It runs through July 3, with the final set for July 19.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-place teams advance.
Mexico, the United States and Germany qualified by June 21, 2026, while Haiti and Turkiye were eliminated on June 19, 2026.

History

Historical Context

FIFA expanded the World Cup to 32 teams for the first time in 1998, staging the tournament in France from 10 June to 12 July with 704 players and a 3-0 final win over Brazil. That format created a predictable June-July schedule and revenue model, which the 2026 edition now follows as it prepares its round-of-32 matches.

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Story summary

The round of 32 knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 28, 2026.
It runs through July 3, with the final set for July 19.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-place teams advance.
Mexico, the United States and Germany qualified by June 21, 2026, while Haiti and Turkiye were eliminated on June 19, 2026.

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