Welcome to day 20 of the 2026 World Cup finals.
We are aiming to bring you a daily round up of the matches to come and recent results.
There are 48 countries at these 2026 World Cup finals, the most there has ever been. The matches to take place across Mexico, Canada and the USA.
We were left with 32 countries for the knockouts after 16 were eliminated in the group stage.
The 16 eliminated at the end of the group stage were: Czech Republic, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Panama, Uzbekistan, Scotland, Iran and South Korea.
Now you can add South Africa. Netherlands, Germany and Japan to that list.
The last 24 hours have seen the second, third and fourth knockout matches played.
Japan proved a major test for Brazil and no surprise, they are now an established side who can give anybody a game and talk of how it would have been ‘humiliation’ for Brazil if they’d lost, was all way over the top.
Japan gave as good as they got in the first half and scored a very good goal through Sano. Brazil improved markedly after the break and Casemiro headed them level 11 minutes into the second half. Then just when it looked like Japan would reach extra time after defending most of the second 45, Bruno Guimaraes topped off an excellent performance when threading through a brilliant pass for Martinelli to score the winner in the fifth minute of added time.
By comparison, Germany v Paraguay was a tough watch. Paraguay defending very deep and doing it well, Germany looking short of talent and inspiration to break them down. Miguel Almiron was excellent and his total commitment and non-stop running epitomised Paraguay. He played a key part in the shock lead given them by Enciso and whilst Havertz did equalise for Germany after the break, Germany never convinced. A tedious game for the neutral and Paraguay got their reward when reaching the penalty shoot out. Havertz, Woltemade and Tah all failing for Germany and whilst Paraguay did their best to throw it away when missing their fourth and fifth penalties they eventually got the job done with their sixth.
Netherlands v Morocco was a very similar story to Germany v Paraguay but far more quality and a better watch. Morocco by far the better and more dominant team with more than 70% possession, hitting the woodwork and in over two hours of football the Netherlands with only one effort on target other than their one goal. Gakpo opening the scoring with 18 minutes to go when the Dutch had a rare threatening break, justice was done though when Diop scored in the first minute of added time. The Netherlands were indebted to their goalkeeper for keeping them in it but Morocco deservedly went through via the penalty shoot out.
England play at 5pm on Wednesday and if they get through against DR Congo, by that point they will know who they’ll play in the last 16 and the two possible teams they could then play in the quarter-finals. Mexico face Ecuador at 2am (UK time) on Wednesday morning and England would play the winners of that tie in a last 16 match. Whilst it is Norway v Ivory Coast at 6pm on Tuesday and the winners of that match face Brazil for a place in the quarter-finals.
It is now 223 goals in 76 matches and this 2026 World Cup not far short of averaging three or more goals per game for the first time since the 1958 World Cup but the chances of it happening are now disappearing in the knockout stages. The closest since 1958 was the 1970 Mexico World Cup that averaged 2.97 goals per match, this 2026 World Cup now averaging 2.93 goals per game after the first 76 matches. There are now 28 games left to play (including the third-place play-off match).
Here are the last 32 results and details of the next upcoming knockout games to be played, all kick-offs are shown as UK times and with the channel that is showing them.
Round of 32 knockout fixtures and results
Sunday 28 June
South Africa 0 Canada 1
Monday 29 June
Brazil 2 Japan 1
Germany 1 Paraguay 1 (Paraguay win on penalties AET)
Tuesday 30 June
Netherlands 1 Morocco 1 (Morocco win on penalties AET)
Ivory Coast v Norway 6pm (BBC1)
France v Sweden 10pm (ITV1)
Wednesday 1 July
Mexico v Ecuador 2am (ITV1)
England v DR Congo 5pm (BBC1)
Belgium v Senegal 9pm (ITV1)
Here is the full 2026 World Cup schedule:
Enjoy!