The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage has officially ended, and the excitement is now moving to the Round of 32. The expanded 48-team tournament has already created many unforgettable moments in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
One of the biggest moments came from Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain came off the bench and helped his team beat Jordan 3-1. Messi also made history by becoming the first player to score in seven straight FIFA World Cup matches. His record added another special chapter to his legendary career.
Another exciting match took place between Austria and Algeria. The game ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw. Austria looked close to victory after scoring in injury time, but Riyad Mahrez found the net in the 93rd minute to earn Algeria an important point. Both teams qualified for the Round of 32.
The United States suffered its first defeat of the tournament after losing 3-2 to Türkiye. Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal deep into stoppage time. Despite the loss, the USA still finished at the top of Group D and moved into the knockout stage.
There were also some surprise results. Uruguay, one of South America’s strongest teams, was knocked out after losing 1-0 to Spain. The result helped Cape Verde qualify for the Round of 32 for the first time, creating one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
France also impressed football fans. Ousmane Dembélé scored a brilliant hat-trick as France defeated Norway 4-1 to finish first in Group I. Senegal recorded the biggest win of the day with a 5-0 victory over Iraq, while DR Congo came from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and book a historic place in the knockout stage.
Round of 32 Matches
The knockout stage begins with several exciting matches:
Germany vs Paraguay – June 29
Brazil vs Japan – June 29
France vs Sweden – June 30
Netherlands vs Morocco – June 30
England vs DR Congo – July 1
United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – July 1
Portugal vs Croatia – July 2
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 will now decide which teams continue their journey toward the victory.