FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32: The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage continues on July 2, 2026 (Thursday) with three compelling Round of 32 clashes, as Spain face Austria, Portugal meet Croatia, and Switzerland take on Algeria. With places in the Round of 16 on the line, the pressure is rising as teams look to turn promising group-stage campaigns into deeper tournament runs.Spain head into their showdown with Austria brimming with confidence after growing stronger with each outing in Group H. La Roja endured a sluggish start, settling for a goalless draw against Cabo Verde, but quickly rediscovered their rhythm. Much of that resurgence has been driven by rising star Lamine Yamal, who delivered a goal and an assist in Spain’s commanding 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Luis de la Fuente’s side then sealed top spot in the group with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uruguay, setting up a high-stakes clash in Los Angeles.Austria’s path to the knockout rounds has been far more dramatic. They opened Group J with an impressive 3-1 win over Jordan before suffering a sobering 2-0 defeat to Argentina, inspired by Lionel Messi. That left everything riding on a tense final group match against Algeria. In a thrilling six-goal contest, Austria rescued a 3-3 draw thanks to Sasa Kalajdzic’s dramatic late equalizer, booking a difficult meeting with the reigning European champions. The winner of Spain versus Austria will advance to the Round of 16, where either Portugal or Croatia awaits at Dallas Stadium on July 6.Portugal and Croatia now prepare for their first-ever meeting at a FIFA World Cup, with both sides aiming to continue their campaigns in Toronto. Portugal progressed after finishing second in Group K. Their journey included draws against Congo DR and Colombia, sandwiching an emphatic 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan that ultimately proved decisive in securing qualification.Croatia, runners-up at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, recovered impressively from an opening defeat to England. They responded with crucial victories over Panama and Ghana in Group L, showing resilience and composure to secure progression into the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Vancouver hosts another intriguing Round of 32 encounter as Switzerland take on Algeria. The Swiss arrive with momentum after topping Group B unbeaten, displaying consistency and defensive solidity throughout the group phase.Algeria’s route, by contrast, was packed with drama. Their campaign came down to a pulsating final match against Austria that ended 3-3. Conceding a stoppage-time equalizer denied them second place in Group J, forcing them to advance in third.Round of 32– Fixtures (July 2, 2026)Spain vs. Austria — Los Angeles Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)Portugal vs. Croatia — Toronto Stadium (7 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)Switzerland vs. Algeria — BC Place Vancouver (11 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live in the USChannels: FOX, Fox Sports 1, Telemundo, Universo, Fubo, YouTube TV, and HuluStreaming: Fox One, Peacock, DirecTV, FuboHow to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live in CanadaChannels/Streaming: TSN, CTV, and RDSFIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 16