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Group Stage Ends and Round‑of‑16 Begins at 2026 World Cup as Bracket Is Set

The knockout draw has produced surprise matchups that reshape the title race and exposed uneven broadcast access for fans across host countries.

Overview

  • The expanded 48‑team World Cup completed its group phase and the full round‑of‑16 bracket was confirmed after the final group matches concluded.
  • Canada became the first team to reach the last 16 when it beat South Africa 1-0 in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, with a late winning goal.
  • Argentina closed its group with a 3-1 win over Jordan and will meet surprising debutant Cabo Verde in Miami in early July in a tie that alters the champion’s projected path.
  • All three host nations — Mexico, Canada and the United States — advanced to the knockouts, while France, Argentina and Mexico were the only teams to win all three group games.
  • Broadcast rights are fragmented across markets, producing restricted access for some big matches such as the Argentina–Jordan game in Mexico, which ViX Premium held as an exclusive.