World Cup Round of 32 Begins: South Africa vs Canada
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- The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has begun, with the field reduced to 32 teams after 72 group-stage matches featuring 48 teams across 12 groups.
- South Africa face co-hosts Canada at 3:00 PM ET in Inglewood, California on Sunday — the lone match of the round's opening day.
- Monday's slate features Japan vs. Brazil (1:00 PM ET), Paraguay vs. Germany (4:30 PM ET), and Morocco vs. Netherlands (9:00 PM ET), all broadcast on FOX.
- Germany enters as a heavy -295 favorite against Paraguay, while Canada is listed at -130 against South Africa.
- Morocco vs. Netherlands closes Monday's action at 9:00 PM ET, with the Netherlands a +120 underdog — the tightest line of the three Monday fixtures.
Why it matters: The 48-team format creates a round of 32 — a stage that didn't exist in prior World Cups — meaning 16 teams go home after just one knockout match. For co-hosts Canada, Sunday is win-or-go-home on home soil in Inglewood, with the bookmakers pricing them as favorites at -130 odds over South Africa.
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