World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage: Results, Fixtures, and Betting Insights

The knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup have been packed with excitement. The tournament has reached its final four teams. Spain has already secured a spot in the final after a convincing 2-0 win over France in the first semi-final. Tonight's match in Atlanta will see England face Argentina, deciding who will challenge Spain for the title. The losing team will meet France in the third-place playoff.

Round of 32 Highlights

• South Africa 0–1 Canada: Eustáquio scored a late winner at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood.
• Brazil 2–1 Japan: Casemiro and Martinelli scored for Brazil; Sano scored for Japan at NRG Stadium, Houston.
• Germany 1–1 Paraguay (a.e.t.): Havertz and Enciso scored; Germany advanced after extra time at Gillette Stadium.
• Netherlands 1–1 Morocco (a.e.t.): Gakpo and Diop scored; match held at Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe.
• Ivory Coast 1–2 Norway: Diallo scored for Ivory Coast; Nusa and Haaland netted for Norway at AT&T Stadium, Arlington.
• France 3–0 Sweden: Mbappé scored twice, Barcola once, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford.
• Mexico 2–0 Ecuador: Quiñones and Jiménez scored at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
• England 2–1 DR Congo: Kane scored twice; Cipenga scored early for DR Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
• Belgium 3–2 Senegal (a.e.t.): Lukaku and Tielemans scored late goals at Lumen Field, Seattle.
• United States 2–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Balogun and Tillman scored at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara.
• Spain 3–0 Austria: Oyarzabal scored twice, Porro once at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood.
• Portugal 2–1 Croatia: Ronaldo (penalty) and Ramos scored; Perišić for Croatia at BMO Field, Toronto.
• Switzerland 2–0 Algeria: Embolo and Ndoye scored at BC Place, Vancouver.
• Australia 1–1 Egypt (a.e.t.): Own goal by Hany and Ashour scored at AT&T Stadium, Arlington.
• Argentina 3–2 Cape Verde (a.e.t.): Messi, Li. Martínez, and own goal from Diney helped Argentina; Cape Verde fought back with two goals at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.
• Colombia 1–0 Ghana: J. Arias scored at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.

Round of 16 Summary

• Canada 0–3 Morocco: Ounahi scored twice, Rahimi added a late goal at NRG Stadium, Houston.
• Paraguay 0–1 France: Mbappé converted a penalty at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.
• Brazil 1–2 Norway: Neymar scored a stoppage-time penalty but Haaland’s two late goals sealed Norway’s win at MetLife Stadium.
• Mexico 2–3 England: Quiñones and Jiménez scored for Mexico; Bellingham scored twice and Kane netted a penalty at Estadio Azteca.
• Portugal 0–1 Spain: Merino’s stoppage-time goal decided the game at AT&T Stadium.
• United States 1–4 Belgium: Tillman scored for the US; Belgium dominated with four goals at Lumen Field.
• Argentina 3–2 Egypt: Messi and teammates edged out Egypt in a tough encounter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• Switzerland 0–0 Colombia (a.e.t.): Match ended goalless at BC Place.

Quarter-finals Recap

• France 2–0 Morocco: Mbappé and Dembélé scored at Gillette Stadium.
• Spain 2–1 Belgium: Fabián and Merino scored for Spain; De Ketelaere for Belgium at SoFi Stadium.
• Norway 1–2 England (a.e.t.): Bellingham’s two goals including the winner at Hard Rock Stadium.
• Argentina 3–1 Switzerland (a.e.t.): Mac Allister, Álvarez, and Martínez scored; Ndoye replied for Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium.

Semi-finals and Upcoming Matches

• Spain 2–0 France: Goals by Oyarzabal (penalty) and Porro at AT&T Stadium.
• England vs Argentina: Scheduled for July, 8:00pm BST at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
• Third-Place Play-off: France faces the loser of England vs Argentina on July, 10:00pm BST at Hard Rock Stadium.
• Final: Spain awaits the winner of England vs Argentina on July, 8:00pm BST at MetLife Stadium.

Betting Angles and Player Performances

Spain stands out as the tournament’s best side so far. Under Luis de la Fuente, they have never trailed in the knockout matches, edging Portugal with a last-minute goal, narrowly beating Belgium, and dominating France in the semis. They have found the net in every knockout game while conceding just twice in five matches.

Jude Bellingham shines for England. He scored twice in the Round of 16 against Mexico and repeated that feat in extra time versus Norway, including the decisive 93rd-minute goal. England’s resilience is clear but their knack for making games tougher than expected also shows.

Argentina boasts attacking depth yet faces challenges. Messi was vital in the group stage and Round of 16, but the team has endured three extra-time battles. This pattern may affect their energy levels ahead of the semi-final clash with England.

Erling Haaland was lethal before England knocked Norway out. He scored twice in both the Round of 32 and last 16, often delivering late winners. France will likely prepare carefully to contain him in the upcoming third-place match.

France faces a tough task in the third-place play-off despite their skill. After a heavy loss to Spain, they still aim to claim third place. Managing morale after a semi-final defeat can be difficult for strong squads like Les Bleus, even with Mbappé’s five goals in the competition.

About the Author

Sofia is a Madrid-based sports journalist holding a Master's in Sports Journalism. She began her career at Marca focusing on La Liga, now writing for Tips.GG with a European perspective on football. An Atlético Madrid fan, she analyzes tactics and stories behind the game. Creator of the blog series "Beyond the Touchline," Sofia explores football’s cultural impact. Away from football, she competes in local tennis and captures fan culture through photography.