The World Cup's inaugural round of 32 begins Sunday, June 28 with the first of 16 games that run through July 3 and the winners advancing to the last 16.With 48 teams, this is the biggest World Cup ever and the knockout round was expanded to 32 from 16, allowing the top two group finishers – and now the eight best third-place teams – to advance into the win-or-go-home stage.The matchups include a few games we might have expected to see later in the tournament including Netherlands-Morocco and Portugal-Croatia. All three co-hosts moved on to the knockout round with the United States facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico taking on Ecuador and Canada playing South Africa in the round of 32.Here's a look at the USA TODAY Sports soccer writers and editors' predictions for the first round of knockout games:South Africa vs. CanadaJon Arnold: CanadaSeth Vertelney: CanadaJesse Yomtov: CanadaVictoria Hernandez: CanadaBrazil vs JapanJon Arnold: BrazilSeth Vertelney: BrazilJesse Yomtov: BrazilVictoria Hernandez: BrazilGermany vs ParaguayJon Arnold: GermanySeth Vertelney: GermanyJesse Yomtov: GermanyVictoria Hernandez: GermanyNetherlands vs MoroccoJon Arnold: NetherlandsSeth Vertelney: NetherlandsJesse Yomtov: NetherlandsVictoria Hernandez: NetherlandsIvory Coast vs NorwayJon Arnold: Ivory CoastSeth Vertelney: NowayJesse Yomtov: NorwayVictoria Hernandez: Ivory CoastMexico vs EcuadorJon Arnold: MexicoSeth Vertelney: MexicoJesse Yomtov: MexicoVictoria Hernandez: MexicoBelgium vs SenegalJon Arnold: BelgiumSeth Vertelney: SenegalJesse Yomtov: BelgiumVictoria Hernandez: BelgiumUSA vs Bosnia and HerzegovinaJon Arnold: United StatesSeth Vertelney: United StatesJesse Yomtov: United StatesVictoria Hernandez: United StatesSpain vs AustriaJon Arnold: SpainSeth Vertelney: SpainJesse Yomtov: SpainVictoria Hernandez: SpainPortugal vs CroatiaJon Arnold: PortugalSeth Vertelney: PortugalJesse Yomtov: CroatiaVictoria Hernandez: CroatiaSwitzerland vs AlgeriaJon Arnold: SwitzerlandSeth Vertelney: AlgeriaJesse Yomtov: SwitzerlandVictoria Hernandez: SwitzerlandAustralia vs EgyptJon Arnold: AustraliaSeth Vertelney: EgyptJesse Yomtov: AustraliaVictoria Hernandez: EgyptArgentina vs Cape VerdeJon Arnold: ArgentinaSeth Vertelney: ArgentinaJesse Yomtov: ArgentinaVictoria Hernandez: ArgentinaColombia vs GhanaJon Arnold: ColombiaSeth Vertelney: ColombiaJesse Yomtov: GhanaVictoria Hernandez: Ghana