The group stages and the Round of 32 of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup have come to an end with some explosive encounters and plenty of surprises from minnows.
Now the USA, Mexico and Canada are entering the real business end as the Round of 16 starts on Saturday, July 4, up to Tuesday, July 7. A third of the 48 teams that made it to North America are already back home and only sixteen remain to tussle it out for the trophy. Africa, which had a record ten teams at the tournament with nine progressing to the knockouts, now remains with only two, Egypt and Morocco.
2026 FIFA World Cup fixtures and predictions
FINAL: Spain vs Argentina
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is set for 2010 champions and current European champions Spain to take on the reigning world champions. Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 the day before the semi-final, is up against Lionel Messi, making his final World Cup appearance at 39.
Knockout route to the final
Final — Sunday 19 July
Spain vs Argentina — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey · midnight
3rd Place — Saturday 18 July
France vs England — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami · 10 pm
Semi-Finals
France 0–2 Spain
England 1–2 Argentina
Quarter-Finals
France 2–0 Morocco
Spain 2–1 Belgium
England 2–1 Norway
Argentina 3–1 Switzerland
Round of 16
France 1–0 Paraguay
Spain 2–1 Portugal
England 3–1 DR Congo
Argentina 3–2 Egypt
Brazil 2–1 Japan
Morocco 3–0 Canada
Belgium 3–2 Senegal
Switzerland 0 (4)–0(3) Colombia
Round of 32
France 3–0 Sweden
Spain 3–0 Austria
England 2–0 Panama
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (aet)
Brazil 2–1 Japan
South Africa 1–0 Canada
Morocco 1(3)–(2)1 Netherlands
Belgium 3–2 Senegal
Portugal 2–1 Croatia
Switzerland 2–0 Algeria
DR Congo 3–1 Uzbekistan
Paraguay 1(4)–(3)1 Germany
Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final:
- Pick 1: Both teams to score -Yes.
Spain have one of the great defences while Argentina have one of the great attackers in Messi. But Spain also score as Yamal, Oyarzabal and Merino give them multiple routes to goal. Argentina’s defence, without the same watertight record as Spain, will concede.
- Pick 2: Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer. 8 tournament goals, 21 career World Cup goals, the record holder. On the biggest stage of his life, against the team that beat Spain to win Euro 2024 in reverse. At whatever odds are available, Messi scoring in his final international match is the most emotionally and statistically supported bet of the tournament.
Our final prediction: Spain 2-1 Argentina
Spain’s defensive record is the best remaining in the tournament, having neutralised Portugal, Belgium and France in consecutive knockout rounds. Argentina’s habit of needing late drama gives Spain’s control-based approach a narrow analytical edge.