Fourteen years after the first 32-team World Cup, the second act of the 48-team era came into focus on Saturday as the group stage of the 2026 finals delivered its last verdicts and confirmed the sixteen ties of the round of 32. In Group J, Argentina closed a perfect first week with a 3-1 win over Jordan, Lionel Messi scoring for a seventh consecutive World Cup match, while Cabo Verde, already through as Group H runners-up, learned it would face the champions in Miami. Croatia sealed second place in Group L by beating Ghana 2-1, and Portugal’s goalless draw with Colombia in Group K meant Cristiano Ronaldo’s side finished only second, condemning it to a heavyweight clash with the 2018 finalists. A 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria pushed both through among the eight best third-placed teams, completing the knockout bracket.

Africa’s representation in the last 32 reached nine nations – South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Cape Verde and Ghana all advanced, with only Tunisia eliminated – the strongest contingent from the continent in the tournament’s history. The new format, which supplies the top two from each of 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed sides, also meant high-profile departures. Uruguay went out with two points, while South Korea, Scotland and Iran missed the cut despite finishing third in their sections. All the pre-tournament favourites survived, but the expanded field delivered a sense of renewal: debutants like Cape Verde and 2022 quarter-finalists Morocco will test established powers on even terms.

Several ties immediately command attention. Brazil, who topped Group C on goal difference ahead of Morocco despite an opening draw, meet Japan in Houston – a Japan side that beat the Seleção in a friendly last October but has never won a knockout game at a World Cup. In Toronto, Croatia’s tournament know-how – finalists in 2018 and semi-finalists in 2022 – confronts a Portugal team that led the FIFA ranking but slipped up against Colombia. France, the 2022 runners-up, face a Sweden side that emerged as one of the best third-placed teams, while the Netherlands take on a Morocco squad that reached the last four in Qatar. Germany, another European heavyweight, drew Paraguay, and England will test a DR Congo team that eliminated Uzbekistan to qualify.

The knockout phase begins on Sunday 28 June in Los Angeles, where South Africa play Canada in the first of 16 sudden-death ties spread over six days. By the time Colombia meet Ghana in Kansas City on the night of 3 July, half the field will be gone and the bracket will point toward a 19 July final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The pre-determined matrix already suggests potential last-16 blockbusters: the winner of Portugal-Croatia will likely face the winner of Spain-Austria, and Germany’s conquerors could run into the France-Sweden survivor. For now, all 32 contenders face a single shot at keeping their World Cup alive in the longest knockout stage the tournament has ever staged.