Sofia Quijada
The World Cup 2026 knockout stage is firmly into the business end, with the Round of 32 and Round of 16 now fully concluded and four mouth-watering quarter-finals on the horizon. Heavyweights France, Spain, Argentina, England and Norway are all still standing, while Morocco and Belgium have been the tournament’s standout overachievers. With the semi-final spots up for grabs imminently, the bracket is as open — and as rich with betting potential — as any in recent memory.
Knockout Stage Bracket
Round of 32 — Results
- South Africa 0–1 Canada | Canada: Eustáquio 90+2′ | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- Brazil 2–1 Japan | Brazil: Casemiro 56′, Martinelli 90+5′; Japan: Sano 29′ | NRG Stadium, Houston
- Germany 1–1 Paraguay (pen. 3:4) | Germany: Havertz 54′; Paraguay: Enciso 42′ | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
- Netherlands 1–1 Morocco (pen. 2:3) | Netherlands: Gakpo 72′; Morocco: Diop 90+1′ | Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
- Ivory Coast 1–2 Norway | Ivory Coast: Diallo 74′; Norway: Nusa 39′, Haaland 86′ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
- France 3–0 Sweden | France: Mbappé 45′, 74′; Barcola 53′ | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
- Mexico 2–0 Ecuador | Mexico: Quiñones 22′, Jiménez 31′ | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- England 2–1 DR Congo | England: Kane 75′, 86′; DR Congo: Cipenga 7′ | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Belgium 3–2 Senegal (a.e.t.) | Belgium: Lukaku 86′, Tielemans 89′, 120+5′ (pen.); Senegal: Diarra 25′, I. Sarr 51′ | Lumen Field, Seattle
- United States 2–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina | United States: Balogun 45′, Tillman 82′ | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
- Spain 3–0 Austria | Spain: Oyarzabal 36′, 89′; Porro 66′ | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- Portugal 2–1 Croatia | Portugal: Ronaldo 68′ (pen.), Ramos 90+4′; Croatia: Perišić 53′ | BMO Field, Toronto
- Switzerland 2–0 Algeria | Switzerland: Embolo 10′, Ndoye 46′ | BC Place, Vancouver
- Australia 1–1 Egypt (pen. 2:4) | Australia: Hany 55′ (o.g.); Egypt: Ashour 13′ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
- Argentina 3–2 Cape Verde (a.e.t.) | Argentina: Messi 29′, Li. Martínez 92′, Diney 111′ (o.g.); Cape Verde: D. Duarte 59′, S. Cabral 103′ | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- Colombia 1–0 Ghana | Colombia: J. Arias 14′ | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Round of 16 — Results
- Canada 0–3 Morocco | Morocco: Ounahi 50′, 82′; Rahimi 90+8′ | NRG Stadium, Houston
- Paraguay 0–1 France | France: Mbappé 70′ (pen.) | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Brazil 1–2 Norway | Brazil: Neymar 90+10′ (pen.); Norway: Haaland 79′, 90′ | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
- Mexico 2–3 England | Mexico: Quiñones 42′, Jiménez 69′ (pen.); England: Bellingham 36′, 38′; Kane 60′ (pen.) | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Portugal 0–1 Spain | Spain: Merino 90+1′ | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
- United States 1–4 Belgium | United States: Tillman 31′; Belgium: De Ketelaere 9′, 33′; Vanaken 57′; Lukaku 90+3′ | Lumen Field, Seattle
- Argentina 3–2 Egypt | Argentina: Romero 79′, Messi 83′, Fernández 90+2′; Egypt: Ibrahim 15′, Ziko 67′ | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Switzerland 0–0 Colombia (pen. 4:3) | BC Place, Vancouver
Quarter-finals — Upcoming Fixtures
- France vs Morocco — July, 9:00pm BST | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
- Spain vs Belgium — July, 8:00pm BST | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- Norway vs England — July, 10:00pm BST | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
- Argentina vs Switzerland — July, 2:00am BST | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Read also: France vs Morocco: 2026 World Cup Betting Tips 9 July
Read also: Spain vs Belgium: 2026 World Cup Betting Tips 10 July
Semi-finals — Upcoming Fixtures
- 🏳️ Winner Match 97 vs 🏳️ Winner Match 98 — July, 8:00pm BST | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
- 🏳️ Winner Match 99 vs 🏳️ Winner Match 100 — July, 8:00pm BST | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Third-Place Play-off — Upcoming Fixture
- 🏳️ Loser Match 101 vs 🏳️ Loser Match 102 — July, 10:00pm BST | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Final — Upcoming Fixture
- 🏳️ Winner Match 101 vs 🏳️ Winner Match 102 — July, 8:00pm BST | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Key Betting Angles
Erling Haaland is the tournament’s most dangerous forward — and Norway are peaking at the right time. Haaland scored twice to eliminate Brazil in the Round of 16, netting in the 79th and 90th minute to overturn a deficit. He also struck in the Round of 32 against Ivory Coast. Three goals in two knockout games, both decisive, makes him the standout anytime scorer option heading into Norway’s quarter-final with England.
Morocco are on a stunning run of form and are not to be underestimated. They forced extra time against the Netherlands in the Round of 32 and then dismantled Canada 3–0 in the last 16, with Ounahi scoring twice. Their defensive structure has been resolute throughout, conceding just one open-play goal across four matches. France will face a very different proposition to Sweden in the quarter-finals.
Spain’s clinical efficiency makes them one of the clearest quarter-final favourites. They beat Austria 3–0 and eliminated Portugal with a 90th-minute Merino winner — two performances that underline their composure in high-pressure moments. Oyarzabal has been their consistent attacking outlet, and their defensive record has been impeccable throughout the knockout rounds.
Belgium’s firepower poses a serious threat to Spain. The Belgians needed extra time to beat Senegal in the Round of 32 but then emphatically swept aside the United States 4–1, with De Ketelaere bagging a brace and Lukaku continuing his trademark habit of scoring late. Goals have come from multiple sources, suggesting they have the depth to test any side in the last eight.
Argentina continue to flirt with elimination but keep finding a way through. They needed extra time to beat Cape Verde — overcoming a 103rd-minute equaliser — and then came from behind twice against Egypt, with Messi and Fernández scoring crucial late goals. Their ability to conjure moments of brilliance under pressure is a hallmark of this squad, though their vulnerability to conceding early suggests that backing their opponents to score at least once is a consistently relevant market.