What happened: The full Round of 16 slate at the 2026 World Cup is confirmed now that the opening knockout round has wrapped up. The first knockout stage played out at venues across the United States, Mexico and Canada, from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and BMO Field in Toronto, trimming the field to sixteen.
Why it matters: The tournament now enters single-elimination territory where one bad night ends a World Cup. Co-host the United States advanced with a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, keeping home-soil hopes alive as heavyweights like Argentina, France, England and Brazil also moved through the opening knockout round.
What to watch: The Round of 16 fixtures kick off next, with matchups and venues now set across the three host nations. Winners advance to the quarterfinals as the tournament narrows toward the July final.