After a record-breaking group stage run, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially entered the knockout stages, with Canada setting the tone by winning their first round of 32 match in dramatic fashion on Sunday.Stephen Eustaquiao’s stoppage-time winner gave Canada a historic 1-0 victory over South Africa, and Jesse Marsh excitedly celebrated the Reds’ first-ever advancement to the last 16. Shortly after the final whistle, Canada’s head coach gathered his players on the court and delivered an impassioned speech.“You are Canadian heroes today! Canadian heroes for the kids in this country who are going to play this sport in the future,” Marsh shouted. “You never lose faith. You keep pursuing it, bit by bit, moment by moment.”As the knockout rounds begin, Canada faces a blockbuster Round of 16 matchup in Houston this weekend against either the Netherlands or Morocco.
After a record-breaking group stage, the knockout stages begin
The expanded format of the tournament brought an unprecedented number of participants, with a total of 48 teams participating in 72 group matches, and 32 countries eventually advanced to the top 32. A record 215 goals were scored in the group stages, with 999 players taking part. Africa achieved its strongest ever representation in the knockout stages, with nine African national teams advancing, while seven teams including Canada, Cape Verde, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo reached the last 32 for the first time in history.
FFA World Cup schedule for this week (June 29 to July 5)
There will be 16 rounds of 32 games this week, with matches taking place across North America, before the tournament moves into the round of 16 over the weekend.
| date | team | site | Time (standard time) |
| June 29 | South Africa vs Canada | Los Angeles | 12:30 noon |
| Brazil vs Japan | Houston | 10:30pm | |
| June 30 | Germany vs Paraguay | boston | 2:00 am |
| Netherlands vs Morocco | monterey | 6:30 am | |
| Ivory Coast vs Norway | dallas | 10:30pm | |
| July 1 | France vs Sweden | new jersey | 2:30 am |
| Mexico vs Ecuador | mexico city | 6:30 am | |
| England vs Congo | Atlanta | 9:30 pm | |
| July 2 | Belgium vs Senegal | seattle | 1:30 am |
| United States vs Bosnia | san francisco | 5:30 am | |
| July 3 | Spain vs Austria | Los Angeles | 12:30 noon |
| Portugal vs Croatia | toronto | 4:30 am | |
| Switzerland vs Algeria | Vancouver | 8:30 am | |
| Australia vs Egypt | dallas | 11:30pm | |
| July 4th | Argentina vs Cape Verde | Miami | 3:30 am |
| Colombia vs Ghana | kansas city | 7:00 am | |
| Canada vs TBD (Top 16) | Houston | 10:30pm | |
| July 5 | TBD vs TBD (Top 16) | Philadelphia | 2:30 am |
