FIFA World Cup 2026™: Round of 32 Schedule & Preview
Following the Group Stage, the knockout rounds at FIFA World Cup 2026™ begin with the Round of 32. Here’s a preview, plus how to watch live on FOX and FS1 with Sling TV.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group Stage featured plenty of pretty soccer, but now the beautiful game has become a knockout.
Single-elimination games begin with the Round of 32, which gets underway on Sunday, June 28 and continues through Friday, July 3. All three host nations – the U.S., Canada and Mexico – made it through to the knockout rounds, and each team has a winnable match before potentially facing the tournament’s top teams in the Round of 16. They’re just three of the teams that look to take care of business as the stakes shift to win-or-go-home.
Here’s a look at the first-ever Round of 32 schedule, what to expect, and how to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live on FOX and FS1 with Sling.
Because of the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams, there’s an all-new round in this year’s tournament: The Round of 32. While the name is straightforward, the path to qualification is anything but. Here’s a complete explanation of the Round of 32, along with details on how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX and FS1 with Sling.
FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 32 Broadcast Schedule
https://youtu.be/zm0ksXH6SfU?si=BWmxeDTXyjbtPcq9
Here’s a look at the complete Round of 32 schedule; follow this link for a full look at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ schedule.
How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX and FS1 with Sling
https://youtu.be/sQ_DO_JnTbY?si=gpTrnV0vO6lL-VXj
English-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be exclusive to FOX and FS1. Here are the Sling services with FS1:
- Sling Select (Best Value)
- Sling Blue (More Variety)
- Sling Orange + Blue (Most Channels)
Use your Sling credentials to sign in to the FOX One app and watch the FOX channels included in your Sling subscription. Packages include Sling Select, Sling Blue, Sling Orange & Blue, and Sling Essentials & Select.
FOX is also available to Sling Select, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue subscribers in the markets listed below:
If you live in one of these markets, you can watch every game of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a subscription to Sling Select, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue. Click the link below to subscribe to Sling Select, and follow this link for complete details on how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX and FS1 with Sling!
Can You Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ With Sling Day Passes?
No. FOX and FS1 are available with a subscription to Sling Blue or Essentials. 1, 3, and 7 Day Passes only offer programming in the Sling Orange package.
Sudden-Death Rules: Extra Time and Penalties
Beginning with the Round of 32, all FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches are single elimination “knockout” games: Lose and you’re eliminated. That means that, unlike the Group Stage, there will not be tie games. If the score is tied at the end of the 90 minutes of regular time, here’s how the matches progress:
- Extra Time: The teams play two 15-minute halves. This is played in full; there is no "golden goal" rule, even if one of the teams scores.
- Penalty Kicks: If the score remains deadlocked after 120 total minutes, the match moves to a standard five-round penalty shootout.
- Sudden Death: If still tied after five rounds of penalties, the shootout goes to single-round sudden death.
Five Must-See Round of 32 Matches
https://youtu.be/HGlk7VPINqM?si=AdV736BSfGfW9zv9
Portugal vs. Croatia (Thursday, July 2, 7:00 PM ET, FOX)
- Closeness: Thanks in part to fairly uninspiring play in the Group Stage, this clash is considered one of the most difficult to predict in the round. The Opta supercomputer gives Portugal a 67.42% chance to win, but the margins on the pitch will likely be razor-thin.
- Star Power: The midfield battle will be elite, featuring Portugal's Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Neves against Croatia's Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Mario Pašalić. Cristiano Ronaldo also continues to lead the Portuguese frontline, and his desperation on the national stage could play a factor, for better and for worse.
- Potential Upset: While Portugal is favored, Croatia has a well-documented habit of grinding out results when it matters most. If Portugal struggles to turn their high possession rates into goals, Croatia's seasoned, crafty core is perfectly positioned to knock them out.
Netherlands vs. Morocco (Monday, June 29, 9:00 PM ET, FOX)
- Closeness: This is a nearly even matchup, with oddsmakers placing it close to a toss-up and the supercomputer giving the Dutch a narrow 61.17% edge. Morocco, which fields several players born in the Netherlands, is viewed as one of the toughest round-of-32 draws in the tournament.
- Star Power: The Dutch are led by the attacking prowess of Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey, and are anchored by Virgil van Dijk on defense. Morocco boasts world-class talents like Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, and Youssef En-Nesyri.
- Potential Upset: Morocco is a highly dangerous "dark horse" that famously eliminated Spain and Portugal in the 2022 World Cup. Their deep, compact defensive block has been exceptional, making them a prime candidate to frustrate and upset the attack-minded Netherlands,.
Ivory Coast vs. Norway (Tuesday, June 30, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
- Closeness: This matchup is viewed as a fixture that could easily go either way. Norway has a 67.81% chance to win, but the margins are tight.
- Star Power: Norway relies heavily on global superstars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, two of the best players in the entire tournament. However, Ivory Coast counters with depth and rising talents like Yan Diomande, Amad Diallo, and Christ Inao Oulaï.
- Potential Upset: Ivory Coast is incredibly adaptable and capable of playing both high-possession and direct styles. Norway, meanwhile, suffers from severe defensive fragility—ranking 35th in the tournament for shots allowed per possession—and struggled to hold a lead against Senegal. If Haaland has an off night, an Ivory Coast upset is highly likely.
France vs. Sweden (Tuesday, June 30, 5:00 PM ET, FOX)
- Closeness: France is the heavy favorite with an 81.46% chance to win, but Sweden has been one of the most entertaining and chaotic teams in North America.
- Star Power: This game features a terrifying amount of attacking talent. France is led by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. Sweden counters with the lethal Premier League duo of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres.
- Potential Upset: Sweden is wildly unpredictable—they crushed Tunisia 5-1 but lost 5-1 to the Netherlands. However, Sweden is a menace on the counterattack, possessing the fifth-best direct attack in the tournament. With France playing surprisingly passive defense in the group stage, Sweden might have the firepower to catch them sleeping.
Brazil vs. Japan (Monday, June 29, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
- Closeness: Brazil is favored with a 68.94% chance to advance, but Japan is widely regarded as everyone's favorite tournament dark horse.
- Star Power: Brazil's electric attack features Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Endrick. Japan counters with an aggressive, highly disciplined squad featuring Daizen Maeda, Daichi Kamada, and Ayase Ueda.
- Potential Upset: Japan has a proven track record of giant-killing, having recently shocked Brazil with a 3-2 comeback victory in October 2025, and beating England 1-0 in March 2026. Their style of play is among the most pure and inspiring in the entire tournament, and Japan is specifically built to disrupt elite opposition. If you’re looking for a Round of 32 upset, this is the one to watch.
Key Dates and Marquee Venues
The Round of 32 features 16 matches played across six consecutive days from June 28 to July 3, 2026. Here’s a look at a few of the marquee matches to mark on your calendar; follow this link for more information on World Cup venues:
- June 28: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) kicks things off with Match 73.
- June 30: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosts Match 79.
- June 30: MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey hosts Match 77.
- July 3: AT&T Stadium in Dallas closes out the round with Match 88.