Who could play who in the last 32: Every potential knockout-stage fixture!
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- World Cup 2026 has 12 of 32 knockout-stage places confirmed as of June 25, with Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, and Colombia all through
- England are on course to top Group L and face Cape Verde in the last 32 on July 1, with a projected route that could pit them against Brazil in the quarter-finals and a repeat of Euro 2024 against Spain in the final
- Scotland sit seventh in the third-place standings and face 'an anxious wait' after a heavy defeat to Brazil, with manager Steve Clarke's side needing results elsewhere to keep their knockout hopes alive
- France and Germany are on course to meet in the last 16, as are Portugal and Spain, according to current bracket projections as things stand
- Seven teams have already been knocked out of the tournament — Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, and Czech Republic — with Haiti the first eliminated
- Brazil topped Group C on goal difference after drawing with Morocco in their opener and will face the Group F runners-up, currently Japan, in the last 32 in Houston on Monday
Why it matters: With 20 knockout-stage places still up for grabs across final matchdays in Groups D through J, a single upset could reroute England from a Cape Verde opener into far tougher territory, while Scotland's seventh-place third-place standing means even favorable results elsewhere may not rescue them from elimination before the knockout rounds begin.
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