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The 2026 World Cup knockout stage delivered three unforgettable matches on Monday, June 29 — including two penalty shootouts and a last-gasp winner from Brazil. Here’s everything you need to know about the Round of 32 action so far.
Monday, June 29 — Results at a Glance
| Match | Score | Venue | Deciding Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs Japan | 2-1 | NRG Stadium, Houston | Martinelli 90+6′ winner |
| Paraguay vs Germany | 1-1 (4-3 pens) | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | VAR disallowed German ET goal; Paraguay wins shootout |
| Morocco vs Netherlands | 1-1 (3-2 pens) | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | Bounou saves penalty; Saibari nets winner |
Brazil 2-1 Japan: Martinelli Saves Seleção at the Death
Japan stunned Brazil early when Kaishu Sano intercepted a Danilo giveaway, broke toward goal untouched, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner in the 29th minute. The Samurai Blue held their lead deep into the second half, threatening one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
But Brazil found an equalizer through Vinícius Jr. in the 72nd minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic 96th-minute winner to send Brazil into the Round of 16. “It felt like the ultimate mental test,” Brazil’s coaching staff said afterward. For a team eliminated in the quarterfinals five of the last six tournaments, this was the grit they desperately needed.
Brazil will face the winner of Colombia vs Ghana in the Round of 16.
Paraguay 1-1 (4-3 Pens) Germany: History-Making Upset
This was arguably the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup — and one of the largest in knockout round history. Paraguay, ranked 31 places below Germany in FIFA’s rankings, took a first-half lead before Germany leveled early in the second half.
In extra time, Germany’s Jonathan Tah thought he’d scored a go-ahead goal in the 101st minute — but VAR intervened, ruling a foul on Paraguay keeper Orlando Gil by Waldemar Anton. The goal was wiped out.
The match went to penalties, where Paraguay keeper Orlando Gil became the hero. Germany suffered their first-ever World Cup penalty shootout loss, with Paraguay converting 4 of their 5 spot kicks. The result ranks as the fourth-biggest World Cup knockout upset since 1994 by FIFA ranking gap (OptaStats).
Paraguay will face the winner of France vs Sweden (Tuesday, June 30) in the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4 in Philadelphia.
Morocco 1-1 (3-2 Pens) Netherlands: Bounou’s Heroics
In Monterrey, an emotional encounter unfolded. Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute — just days after he and his partner announced the tragic loss of their unborn son. Gakpo’s goal was filled with raw emotion, but Morocco equalized through Ismael Saibari late in the second half.
After 120 minutes couldn’t separate the sides, it came down to penalties. Yassine Bounou, the veteran Moroccan goalkeeper, guessed correctly on Crysencio Summerville’s spot kick, and Ismael Saibari — playing through a congenital heart condition that shaped his remarkable World Cup journey — scored the winning penalty.
Morocco will face Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4 in Houston. Canada earned its first-ever World Cup knockout win by beating South Africa 1-0 on Sunday.
Previous Round of 32 Results
| Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, June 28 | Canada vs South Africa | 1-0 |
Today’s Matches — Tuesday, June 30
Three more Round of 32 battles await:
- France vs Sweden — East Rutherford, NJ
- Ivory Coast vs Norway
- Mexico vs Ecuador
France enters as the heavy favorite, but Sweden has been a tricky opponent. Mexico, as Group A winners, will look to continue their strong run against Ecuador in front of a passionate home crowd.
Upcoming Matches to Watch
| Date | Matchup | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, July 1 | USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina | Host nation begins knockout campaign |
| Wed, July 1 | England vs DR Congo | Tournament favorites begin R32 |
| Thu, July 2 | Portugal vs Croatia | Ronaldo’s potential farewell tour |
| Thu, July 2 | Spain vs Austria | Two European powers collide |
| Fri, July 3 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | Messi-less Argentina debuts in knockouts |
| Fri, July 3 | Australia vs Egypt | AFC vs CAF drama |
Looking Ahead
The Round of 32 has already delivered shocks, drama, and moments of raw humanity — from Paraguay’s historic upset to Gakpo’s heartbreaking goal and Martinelli’s last-gasp winner. With 16 matches still to play before the Round of 16, this World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in history.
Which match are you most excited for? The USA takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1 at Levi’s Stadium — don’t miss it.
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