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SportsFIFA World Cup 2026: Final set for July 20 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
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The FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, has entered its knockout phase. The round of 16 concludes on July 8, followed by quarterfinals from July 10-12, semifinals on July 15-16, and the final on July 20 at 12:30 AM IST at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Major upsets include Paraguay defeating Germany on penalties, Norway eliminating Brazil, and Morocco beating the Netherlands. Cape Verde made a debut appearance, and Iran drew attention due to geopolitical tensions. The article provides a detailed schedule in Indian Standard Time (IST) for all remaining matches, with winners to be determined.
Source report
Who has progressed in the knockouts of the FIFA World Cup? And when are the matches being played?
Published: July 08, 2026 07:22 am IST By: The Hindu Bureau
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered a crucial phase, with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the coveted final match now in sight.
The tournament has enthralled fans across the host nations of the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The final will be played on July 20 at 12:30 am (IST) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Also Read: The Hindu’s live coverage of the World Cup
Major Upsets and Highlights
The World Cup has seen several major upsets:
- Germany was beaten by Paraguay on penalties — a historic first, as Germany had never lost a penalty shootout. Paraguay ended their four-out-of-four shootout-winning streak.
- Brazil continued their painful 24-year championship drought, with Norway knocking them out.
- Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalties, marking the earliest World Cup exit in Dutch history.
- Cape Verde made their FIFA World Cup debut and won hearts with their grit and steadfastness.
- Iran went viral on social media due to the ongoing West Asia war and tensions with the USA, one of the tournament hosts.
Route to the 2026 World Cup Trophy
The Round of 16 concludes on July 8. The next stage is the quarterfinals. The four winners of the quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals. The two winners of the semifinals will meet in the final for a chance to win the FIFA trophy and become reigning world champions.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule (India Timing)
Quarterfinals
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Q1: Morocco vs France | July 10 | 1:30 am | TBD | | Q2: Spain vs Belgium | July 11 | 12:30 am | TBD | | Q3: Norway vs England | July 12 | 2:30 am | TBD | | Q4: Argentina vs Switzerland | July 12 | 6:30 am | TBD |
Semifinals
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | S1: Q1 winner vs Q2 winner | July 15 | 5:30 am | TBD | | S2: Q3 winner vs Q4 winner | July 16 | 5:30 am | TBD |
Final
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Final: S1 winner vs S2 winner | July 20 | 12:30 am | TBD |
Note: 'TBD' stands for 'To be decided'. The knockout matches will determine which countries face each other.
Published - July 08, 2026 07:22 am IST
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
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