World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage: Where We Stand & What to Back (12 July 2026)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is entering its climactic final rounds, with France, Spain, England, and Argentina the last four nations standing after a dramatic series of upsets and thrillers across North America. The Round of 32 and Round of 16 have been and gone, three quarter-finals are settled, and the remaining last-eight tie between Argentina and Switzerland is still to be played in the early hours of Sunday morning BST. With the semi-finals and final on the horizon, the stakes — and the value — have never been higher.

Knockout Stage Bracket

Round of 32

•   South Africa vs   Canada — 0–1 | Canada: Eustáquio 90+2′ | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
•   Brazil vs   Japan — 2–1 | Brazil: Casemiro 56′, Martinelli 90+5′; Japan: Sano 29′ | NRG Stadium, Houston
•   Germany vs   Paraguay — 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Germany: Havertz 54′; Paraguay: Enciso 42′ | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
•   Netherlands vs   Morocco — 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Netherlands: Gakpo 72′; Morocco: Diop 90+1′ | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
•   Ivory Coast vs   Norway — 1–2 | Ivory Coast: Diallo 74′; Norway: Nusa 39′, Haaland 86′ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
•   France vs   Sweden — 3–0 | France: Mbappé 45′, 74′, Barcola 53′ | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
•   Mexico vs   Ecuador — 2–0 | Mexico: Quiñones 22′, Jiménez 31′ | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
•   England vs   DR Congo — 2–1 | England: Kane 75′, 86′; DR Congo: Cipenga 7′ | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
•   Belgium vs   Senegal — 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Belgium: Lukaku 86′, Tielemans 89′, 120+5′ (pen.); Senegal: Diarra 25′, I. Sarr 51′ | Lumen Field, Seattle
•   United States vs   Bosnia and Herzegovina — 2–0 | United States: Balogun 45′, Tillman 82′ | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
•   Spain vs   Austria — 3–0 | Spain: Oyarzabal 36′, 89′, Porro 66′ | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
•   Portugal vs   Croatia — 2–1 | Portugal: Ronaldo 68′ (pen.), Ramos 90+4′; Croatia: Perišić 53′ | BMO Field, Toronto
•   Switzerland vs   Algeria — 2–0 | Switzerland: Embolo 10′, Ndoye 46′ | BC Place, Vancouver
•   Australia vs   Egypt — 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Australia: Hany 55′ (o.g.); Egypt: Ashour 13′ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
•   Argentina vs   Cape Verde — 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Argentina: Messi 29′, Li. Martínez 92′, Diney 111′ (o.g.); Cape Verde: D. Duarte 59′, Lopes Cabral 103′ | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
•   Colombia vs   Ghana — 1–0 | Colombia: J. Arias 14′ | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Round of 16

•   Canada vs   Morocco — 0–3 | Morocco: Ounahi 50′, 82′, Rahimi 90+8′ | NRG Stadium, Houston
•   Paraguay vs   France — 0–1 | France: Mbappé 70′ (pen.) | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
•   Brazil vs   Norway — 1–2 | Brazil: Neymar 90+10′ (pen.); Norway: Haaland 79′, 90′ | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
•   Mexico vs   England — 2–3 | Mexico: Quiñones 42′, Jiménez 69′ (pen.); England: Bellingham 36′, 38′, Kane 60′ (pen.) | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
•   Portugal vs   Spain — 0–1 | Spain: Merino 90+1′ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
•   United States vs   Belgium — 1–4 | United States: Tillman 31′; Belgium: De Ketelaere 9′, 33′, Vanaken 57′, Lukaku 90+3′ | Lumen Field, Seattle
•   Argentina vs   Egypt — 3–2 | Argentina: Romero 79′, Messi 83′, Fernández 90+2′; Egypt: Ibrahim 15′, Ziko 67′ | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
•   Switzerland vs   Colombia — 0–0 (a.e.t.) | BC Place, Vancouver

Quarter-finals

•   France vs   Morocco — 2–0 | France: Mbappé 60′, Dembélé 66′ | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
•   Spain vs   Belgium — 2–1 | Spain: Fabián 30′, Merino 88′; Belgium: De Ketelaere 41′ | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
•   Norway vs   England — 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Norway: Schjelderup 36′; England: Bellingham 45+2′, 93′ | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
•   Argentina vs   Switzerland — 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Argentina: Alexis Mac Allister 10′, Julián Álvarez 112′, Lautaro Martínez 120+1′; Switzerland: Dan Ndoye 67′ | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Semi-finals

•   France vs   Spain — July, 8:00pm BST | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
•   England vs   Argentina — July, 8:00pm BST | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Final

• 🏳️ Winner Match 101 vs 🏳️ Winner Match 102 — July, 8:00pm BST | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

Read also: France vs Spain Prediction: 14.07.2026 World Cup Semifinal Preview

Key Betting Angles

Five sharp observations for bettors as the tournament reaches its final stages:

• Kylian Mbappé is in unstoppable form. France’s captain has scored in every knockout round, netting five goals across the Round of 32, Round of 16, and quarter-final alone. He has been directly involved in eight of France’s knockout-stage goals and looks a near-certainty to trouble any defence — making him a compelling selection in anytime scorer and shots-on-target markets for the semi-final against Spain.
• England have been the tournament’s comeback kings. Jude Bellingham’s brace against Mexico — scored in the 36th and 38th minutes to reverse an early deficit — and his dramatic 93rd-minute winner against Norway in extra time illustrate England’s capacity to perform under pressure. Bellingham merits attention in both goal scorer and match-winner markets; he has proven he delivers at the sharpest end of the knockout stage.
• Erling Haaland dismantled Brazil. Norway’s elimination of the five-time champions was one of the tournament’s defining results. Haaland netted in the 79th and 90th minutes to overturn a late Brazilian penalty and send the Seleção home. Now beaten by England in the quarter-final, Norway’s run is over — but Haaland’s tally of three knockout goals underlines how dangerous he was throughout.
• Spain are clinical and hard to beat. La Roja have not conceded more than one goal in any knockout match, dispatching Austria 3–0, eliminating Portugal with a 90th-minute Merino goal, and overcoming a stubborn Belgium side 2–1. Álvaro Morata’s squad appears well-organised and possesses late-game composure — reflected by two of their three knockout wins being decided in the final ten minutes.
• Argentina have needed extra time twice. Surviving scares against both Cape Verde (3–2 a.e.t.) and Egypt (3–2 at 90 minutes) suggests vulnerability despite Messi’s continued brilliance. Their quarter-final against Switzerland — who navigated a goalless draw against Colombia without conceding — could be tight, and Switzerland’s defensive solidity makes the match a credible candidate for a low-scoring contest or another period of extra time.