Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – The 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its first knockout stage as the round of 32 gets underway from June 29 to July 4, featuring 16 do-or-die matches. Big-name clashes include Brazil against Japan, France versus Sweden, England taking on DR Congo, and defending champions Argentina facing Cape Verde.
Asia’s presence has shrunk dramatically, with only Japan and Australia advancing from the nine teams that initially qualified. Indonesian football analyst Hadi Gunawan described the continent’s overall performance as disappointing. He believes two-time Asian champions Qatar should have gone further and expressed regret over South Korea’s exit despite their squad being packed with top European-based talent.
Full Round of 32 Schedule (Western Indonesian Time)
1. Monday, June 29
02:00 – South Africa vs Canada
2. Tuesday, June 30
00:00 – Brazil vs Japan
03:30 – Germany vs Paraguay
08:00 – Netherlands vs Morocco
3. Wednesday, July 1
00:00 – Ivory Coast vs Norway
04:00 – France vs Sweden
08:00 – Mexico vs Ecuador
23:00 – England vs DR Congo
4. Thursday, July 2
03:00 – Belgium vs Senegal
07:00 – United States vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
5. Friday, July 3
02:00 – Spain vs Austria
06:00 – Portugal vs Croatia
10:00 – Switzerland vs Algeria
6. Saturday, July 4
01:00 – Australia vs Egypt
05:00 – Argentina vs Cape Verde
08:30 – Colombia vs Ghana
Match Spotlights and History
The tournament’s first knockout game pits South Africa against Canada. The teams have met only once in a senior fixture — a 2-0 friendly win for South Africa back in 2007.
One of the most intriguing ties is Netherlands versus Morocco. The Dutch hold a 2-1 edge in their three previous meetings, highlighted by a memorable 2-1 victory over the Atlas Lions at the 1994 World Cup.
France vs Sweden and Spain vs Austria are expected to be dominated by the European heavyweights, who have historically controlled their matchups in major competitions like the Euros and Nations League.
The spotlight will shine brightest on Brazil vs Japan. On paper, the Selecao have dominated with 11 wins from 14 encounters, but Japan carries significant psychological momentum after stunning Brazil 3-2 in a friendly last October.
Germany will be wary of Paraguay, despite a narrow 1-0 win in the 2002 World Cup round of 16. Paraguay held the Germans to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their most recent friendly.
A fiery intra-continental rivalry awaits in Mexico vs Ecuador, where El Tri holds a slight historical advantage in Copa America meetings.
England vs DR Congo and Belgium vs Senegal promise to be pure tactical battles, as the sides have limited senior competitive history against each other.
Perhaps the most historic fixture is Argentina versus Cape Verde — the first-ever meeting between the two nations. The defending champions are expected to go all out, while the underdog Islanders aim to continue their giant-killing reputation.
The round of 32 is set to deliver plenty of drama as football’s biggest stage intensifies. (aan/mzm)
