FIFA World Cup schedule this week (June 22-28, 2026): Messi’s Argentina, Mbappe’s France take center stage as the final sprint for a knockout spot begins | Football News

Argentina’s Messi (second from right) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal. (AP Photo)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set for a dramatic week as the expanded 48 teams enter the final group stages and the race for a spot in the last 32 gathers pace from Monday.After 10 days of competition between the United States, Canada and Mexico, only three teams officially qualified for the knockout rounds. Co-hosts the United States and Mexico, as well as four-time champions Germany, have already booked their spots after the first two games.On the other hand, Haiti, Türkiye and Tunisia became the first teams to be eliminated, and the remaining 42 countries will compete for the remaining 29 seats in the next round.The second round of group matches ends on Wednesday, with several groups of heavyweights expected to have a clearer picture. Defending champions Argentina, former world champions France, England and Portugal are among the teams still seeking to secure knockout spots.From Thursday, focus will turn to the final round of the group matches, with FIFA adopting the traditional format of teams kicking off at the same time. The purpose of scheduling is to maintain the integrity of the sport and prevent teams from gaining an advantage by knowing the outcome of another game.For example, the two games in Group A will start at the same time, and in the final days of the first stage, all 12 groups will use the same format.In extended formats, the stakes are even higher. The top two teams in each group will automatically advance to the top 32, while the eight best third-place teams will also advance, which means that countries that missed the top two still have a chance.With 29 knockout spots still up for grabs and several traditional teams yet to confirm their qualifications, the coming week promises to be high drama, tense calculations and simultaneous battles across multiple venues.By the end of this week, the knockout stages of the inaugural 32-team tournament will finally be complete, and whether dreams come true or are dashed, the group stage finale promises to be exciting.