June 28, 2026
After 72 games were played to eliminate just 12 of the 48 teams at the largest-ever World Cup, the knockout phase is finally set to begin.
All of the pre-tournament favorites (France, Spain, England, Argentina) made it through, and a few surprise sides are through, too.
Cape Verde, in their first-ever World Cup appearance, drew all three of their group-stage matches to advance. The Democratic Republic of the Congo got out of the group stage for the first time in their second World Cup. The other time the Leopards were in the event, they were playing as Zaire in 1974.
Cape Verde's reward is a round of 32 matchup with the defending champions, Argentina, on Friday in Miami Gardens, Fla. DR Congo will square off with England on Wednesday in Atlanta.
