# World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Heats Up: USA Advances as Round of 32 Wraps Friday
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering everything fans could ask for — drama upsets, record-breaking viewership, and plenty of VAR controversy. As the Round of 32 concludes Friday with three high-stakes matches, here’s everything you need to know.
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## What’s Happened So Far
The knockout stage has been relentless. The **USMNT** punched their ticket to the Round of 16 with a convincing 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium, setting a new **US soccer viewership record** — 24.4 million average viewers with a peak of 31.9 million. It’s now the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in American history.
However, the match wasn’t without controversy. Star striker **Folarin Balogun** received a controversial red card in the 64th minute after VAR review showed him stepping on Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović. The red card means Balogun will serve a one-game suspension against Belgium in the Round of 16.
Elsewhere in the knockout bracket:
| Match | Score | Highlight |
|——-|——-|———–|
| **Portugal** vs Croatia | 2-1 | Gonçalo Ramos scored the 94th-minute winner; Croatia’s dramatic equalizer was overturned by VAR using a microchip embedded in the match ball |
| **USA** vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2-0 | USMNT advances to face Belgium; Balogun suspended |
| **Spain** vs Austria | 3-0 | Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice in a dominant performance |
| **Switzerland** vs Algeria | 2-0 | Swiss cruise into the next round |
| **England** vs DR Congo | 2-1 | Harry Kane’s heroics save England |
| **Belgium** vs Senegal | 3-2 | Belgium came from two goals down |
| **France** vs Sweden | 3-0 | Les Bleus looking dangerous |
| **Brazil** vs Japan | 2-1 | Samba kings advance |
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## Friday’s Round of 32 Finale (July 3)
Three matches close out the first knockout round:
### 🇦🇺 Australia vs Egypt 🇪🇬 — 8:00 AM ET
Both teams are chasing their **first World Cup knockout-stage win**. Egypt has Mohamed Salah, but Australia has been rock-solid defensively, conceding just two goals in the group stage. The winner likely faces **Argentina** in the Round of 16.
### 🇨🇻 Cape Verde vs Argentina 🇦🇷 — 12:00 PM ET
The Cinderella story continues. Cape Verde — the tiny island nation making its World Cup debut — faces Lionel Messi and the defending champions. The Blue Sharks allowed only two goals in group play, but Messi is chasing the **Golden Boot** and looks unstoppable.
### 🇨🇴 Colombia vs Ghana 🇬🇭 — 4:00 PM ET
Colombia won Group K unbeaten and has won its last four matches against African teams. Ghana, who finished third in Group L, will try to pull off the upset and set up a Round of 16 meeting with Switzerland.
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## USMNT’s Path Forward
The Americans will face **Belgium** in the Round of 16 — a team that just showed incredible resilience coming back from 2-0 down against Senegal. Without Balogun, coach Mauricio Pochettino will need to adjust his attack. Kickoff is expected early next week.
If the USMNT beats Belgium, a potential quarterfinal matchup with either **Portugal or Spain** awaits.
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## FAQ
### Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup?
All matches are broadcast on **FOX**, **FS1**, and streaming on **fubo** (get a [free trial here](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/worldcup/)). Live coverage is also available via FIFA’s official platforms.
### How does the microchip in the match ball work?
Adidas has embedded a **connected ball technology (CTR-CORE)** sensor inside the official World Cup match ball. It tracks every touch at 500 frames per second and transmits data to the VAR room. This chip was instrumental in overturning Croatia’s would-be equalizer against Portugal on Thursday — it detected that Igor Matanović touched the ball, which put Mario Pašalić offside on the second phase of play.
### When is the World Cup final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be held at **MetLife Stadium** in East Rutherford, New Jersey on **July 19, 2026**.
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## Upcoming Round of 16 Matchups (So Far)
| Matchup | Venue |
|———|——-|
| Spain vs Portugal | SoFi Stadium |
| Switzerland vs (Colombia/Ghana) | BC Place |
| Belgium vs USA | TBD |
| England vs (TBD) | TBD |
| France vs (TBD) | TBD |
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## Final Thoughts
The 2026 World Cup has already been the most entertaining tournament in recent memory. Whether you’re rooting for the USMNT, watching Messi’s last dance, or just enjoying the chaos — this is must-watch television.
**Stay tuned** for more World Cup updates, tech coverage of the innovative match-ball technology, and gaming content right here on PC Master Deals.
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*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, PC Master Deals earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.*
*Check out our other World Cup coverage: [Portugal Edge Croatia in Thriller](https://blog.pcmasterdeals.com/world-cup-2026-round-of-32-portugal-edge-croatia-switzerland-cruise-past-algeria) | [Ronaldo Scores First Knockout Goal](https://blog.pcmasterdeals.com/world-cup-2026-ronaldo-first-knockout-goal-portugal-croatia)*