The World Cup’s knockout stage is already providing some premier matchups in the round of 32.It’s part of a bracket that features an easier road for some teams than others.There are three games on Monday, starting with Brazil vs. Japan in Houston. The Brazilians — who won Group C — are five-time World Cup champions but face a tough opponent in Japan, which is ranked No. 17 in the world. The Japanese finished second in Group F with one win and two draws.Group E winner Germany faces Paraguay in the day’s second game. Germany scored 10 goals in the group stage, which was tied for the most of any team. Paraguay bounced back from a 4-1 loss to the United States by beating Turkey and fighting to a draw with Australia to narrowly qualify for the knockout stage after finishing third in Group D.The nightcap is a matchup of top-10 teams when the Netherlands faces Morocco. The Dutch are often considered the best country to never win a World Cup, while Morocco has jumped into soccer’s elite over the past few years after a surprise run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals in Qatar.
What to watch on June 29— Brazil vs. Japan, 1 p.m. EDT in Houston (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)— Germany vs. Paraguay, 4:30 p.m. EDT in Foxborough, Massachusetts (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)— Netherlands vs. Morocco, 9 p.m. EDT in Monterrey, Mexico (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)
