World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Explained

The World Cup 2026 Round of 16 covers 8 matches played between Sat, Jul 4 – Tue, Jul 7. Eight ties decide who reaches the quarter-finals.
Table of Contents
The Round of 16 trims the field to eight, with winners progressing to the quarter-finals. Across world cup 2026 round of 16, the action lands in 8 host cities and 8 venues, taking in Philadelphia, Houston, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City. Every fixture in world cup 2026 round of 16 is listed in the table below with its date, city and stage, so you can see at a glance how the phase fits together before you plan travel or viewing.
Because the 2026 World Cup is split across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the games in world cup 2026 round of 16 span up to four North American time zones. That means a single day of world cup 2026 round of 16 can serve up an afternoon kick-off on the east coast and a late-evening one out west, so map each match to your own local time before you commit. With world cup 2026 round of 16 running Sat, Jul 4 – Tue, Jul 7, leaving a buffer between fixtures is the difference between a relaxed trip and a frantic one.
| Date | Match | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jul 4 | Canada vs Morocco | Houston | Round of 16 |
| Sat, Jul 4 | Paraguay vs France | Philadelphia | Round of 16 |
| Sun, Jul 5 | Brazil vs Norway | New York/New Jersey | Round of 16 |
| Sun, Jul 5 | Mexico vs England | Mexico City | Round of 16 |
| Mon, Jul 6 | Portugal vs Spain | Dallas | Round of 16 |
| Mon, Jul 6 | United States vs Belgium | Seattle | Round of 16 |
| Tue, Jul 7 | Argentina vs Egypt | Atlanta | Round of 16 |
| Tue, Jul 7 | Switzerland vs Colombia | Vancouver | Round of 16 |
World Cup 2026 fixtures (8 matches).
The pick of world cup 2026 round of 16 is Paraguay vs France on Sat, Jul 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Tickets and nearby hotels for the marquee games in world cup 2026 round of 16 move first, so if this is your priority fixture, build the rest of your world cup 2026 round of 16 plans around it rather than the other way round. The lower-profile matches in world cup 2026 round of 16 are usually easier to reach late and can be the better value for a spontaneous trip.
Planning around world cup 2026 round of 16
Set calendar reminders the night before each world cup 2026 round of 16 fixture and leave a 15-minute buffer for the build-up and any broadcast delay. If you are following more than one game in world cup 2026 round of 16, cluster your travel by region — the 2026 schedule deliberately keeps related fixtures geographically close to limit team travel, and fans can ride that same logic to cut their own journeys. Keep an eye on confirmed kick-off times for world cup 2026 round of 16 right up to the day itself, since broadcast and logistics tweaks can still nudge slots by an hour. If your nation is involved in world cup 2026 round of 16, prioritise those dates first and treat the rest as flexible. Watching from home rather than travelling? The same advice applies: lock the world cup 2026 round of 16 dates into your calendar, confirm which broadcaster or stream holds the rights in your country, and plan rest around the matches that matter most to you.
Broadcasting & how to watch world cup 2026 round of 16
Television and streaming rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in world cup 2026 round of 16 are split by region. For fans watching in the United States, English coverage is broadcast live on FOX Sports channels, while Spanish broadcasts are carried by Telemundo and Peacock. In Canada, TSN and CTV hold the exclusive live rights. Viewers in the United Kingdom can follow every game free-to-air across BBC and ITV. For other major English-speaking regions, SBS provides free coverage in Australia, and JioCinema handles live streaming in India. Always double-check your local TV guides or streaming apps the day before the match to ensure you have active credentials and avoid missing the first whistle of world cup 2026 round of 16.
Related 2026 Fixtures
Related Team Schedules
Featured Host Cities
New York/New Jersey
USA
Serviced by three major airports: Newark Liberty (EWR) which is closest to the stadium, John F. Kennedy (JFK), and LaGuardia (LGA). All connect to transit.
Dallas
USA
Fly into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — a massive global hub — or Dallas Love Field (DAL) for domestic connections.
Los Angeles
USA
Serviced by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ontario (ONT), John Wayne (SNA), and Hollywood Burbank (BUR).
Featured Host Stadiums
MetLife Stadium
New York/New Jersey, USA
Cap: 82,500
AT&T Stadium
Dallas, USA
Cap: 80,000
SoFi Stadium
Los Angeles, USA
Cap: 70,240
Frequently Asked Questions
How many matches are in the the world cup 2026 round of 16?
There are 8 matches, played between Sat, Jul 4 – Tue, Jul 7.
What is the standout fixture?
Paraguay vs France on Sat, Jul 4 is the highest-profile game of this stage.
Hannah Whitfield
Fixtures & Format Editor
Hannah tracks the full 104-match calendar and the mechanics of the expanded 48-team tournament, from group-stage scheduling to the Round of 32 and tiebreakers.
Focus areas: Match calendar · 48-team format · Tiebreakers & rules
Editorial standards: see our editorial policy and corrections policy.
Article Specs
Looking for the full match calendar?
Get the complete 104-fixture schedule with timezone conversions.