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title: “2026 World Cup Knockouts Begin: Full Round of 32 Schedule & Group Stage Recap”
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# 2026 World Cup Knockouts Begin: Full Round of 32 Schedule & Group Stage Recap
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage has officially wrapped, and what a ride it’s been. With 72 matches played, 215 goals scored (averaging 2.99 per game), and a record-shattering 4.6 million spectators filling stadiums across North America, the expanded 48-team tournament has already delivered unforgettable moments. Now, the knockout rounds kick off today, June 28.
## Group Stage by the Numbers
| Stat | Value |
|—|—|
| Matches Played | 72 |
| Goals Scored | 215 (2.99/match) |
| Total Attendance | 4,644,549 |
| Attendance Record | Surpassed 1994 World Cup record |
| Top Scorer | Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 6 goals |
The tournament officially set the highest attendance in World Cup history on June 25, surpassing the 32-year record held by the 1994 USA World Cup. 🏟️
## Group Winners Who Advanced
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups advanced, along with the 8 best third-place teams. Here are the group winners heading into the knockout stage:
| Group | Winner | Runners-up & 3rd Place Advancements |
|—|—|—|
| A | Mexico | — |
| B | Switzerland | Bosnia & Herzegovina (3rd) |
| C | TBD | — |
| D | United States 🇺🇸 | Paraguay (3rd) |
| E | Germany | Ecuador (3rd) |
| F | TBD | Sweden (3rd) |
| G | Belgium | — |
| H | TBD | — |
| I | France | Senegal (3rd) |
| J | TBD | Algeria (3rd) |
| K | Colombia | DR Congo (3rd) |
| L | England | Ghana (3rd) |
## Drama in the Final Matchdays
The last group-stage matchdays (June 24-27) brought edge-of-your-seat drama:
– **Argentina’s Messi magic:** Lionel Messi came off the bench and scored to seal Argentina’s victory over Jordan. He now leads the Golden Boot race with 6 goals.
– **DR Congo stuns Uzbekistan:** A dramatic comeback win set up a Round of 32 meeting with England.
– **Late drama in Group J:** Austria and Algeria snatched knockout berths in the dying moments, breaking Iranian hearts.
– **Clarke quits Scotland** after their group-stage exit.
– **South Korea president blasts team** following their elimination.
## 🏆 Round of 32 — Full Schedule
The knockout stage begins TODAY. Here’s every match (times in Eastern):
### Saturday, June 28
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| South Africa vs Canada | 3:00 PM |
### Sunday, June 29
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| Brazil vs Japan | 1:00 PM |
| Germany vs Paraguay | 4:30 PM |
### Monday, June 30
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| Netherlands vs Morocco | 9:00 AM |
| Ivory Coast vs Norway | 1:00 PM |
| France vs Sweden | 5:00 PM |
### Tuesday, July 1
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| Mexico vs Ecuador | 9:00 AM |
| England vs DR Congo | 1:00 PM |
| Belgium vs Senegal | 5:00 PM |
### Wednesday, July 2
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8:00 PM |
### Thursday, July 3
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| Spain vs Austria | 1:00 PM |
| Portugal vs Croatia | 5:00 PM |
| Switzerland vs Algeria | 9:00 PM |
### Friday, July 3 (late)
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| Australia vs Egypt | 2:00 PM |
| Argentina vs Cape Verde | 6:00 PM |
### Saturday, July 4
| Match | Time (ET) |
|—|—|
| Colombia vs Ghana | 12:30 AM |
## What’s at Stake
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Defending champions Argentina face debutants Cape Verde. Host nation USA takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in what promises to be an electric atmosphere. And England meets a dangerous DR Congo side that just pulled off an incredible comeback.
## Looking Ahead
The Round of 32 runs through July 3, followed by the Round of 16 (July 4-7), quarterfinals (July 9-11), semifinals (July 14-15), and the Grand Finale at MetLife Stadium on July 19 featuring a Super Bowl-style halftime show with Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.
**Which dark horse will make a run?** Keep it locked on PC Master Deals for ongoing World Cup 2026 coverage.
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