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Sports2026 World Cup Final: Spain vs Argentina, kickoff at 12:30 AM IST on July 20
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The article provides the complete knockout stage schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, converted to Indian Standard Time (IST). The tournament, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the USA, began on June 11 and will conclude on July 19. The knockout rounds started on June 29 with South Africa vs. Canada. The schedule lists all matches from the Round of 32 through the Final, including winners for completed rounds. Notable results include Canada defeating South Africa, Brazil beating Japan, and Morocco upsetting the Netherlands. The semifinals saw Spain defeat France and Argentina beat England. The final is scheduled for July 20 at 12:30 AM IST between Spain and Argentina, with the winner yet to be decided. The article is tailored for Indian audiences, highlighting star players like Messi, Ronaldo, and Mbappe.
Source report
Updated: July 16, 2026, 04:59 am IST By: The Hindu Bureau
Giant replicas of the FIFA 2026 World Cup trophy and ball. | Photo Credit: Henry Romero
The knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup begin on June 29, after an exciting group stage that featured 48 nations for the first time.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being played across Canada, Mexico, and the USA, with stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe keeping the high-octane football matches nail-biting. The event began on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and will conclude on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. The knockout matches begin on June 29, with South Africa playing tournament co-host Canada.
The 2026 World Cup is the first time the tournament is being held across three nations, with an expanded roster of 48 nations competing in total.
Here is your guide to the teams competing, with match times according to Indian Standard Time (IST).
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Round of 32
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1: South Africa vs Canada | June 29 | 12:30 am | Canada | | 2: Brazil vs Japan | June 29 | 10:30 pm | Brazil | | 3: Germany vs Paraguay | June 30 | 2:00 am | Paraguay | | 4: Morocco vs Netherlands | June 30 | 6:30 am | Morocco | | 5: Côte d'Ivoire vs Norway | June 30 | 10:30 pm | Norway | | 6: France vs Sweden | July 1 | 2:30 am | France | | 7: Mexico vs Ecuador | July 1 | 6:30 am | Mexico | | 8: England vs DR Congo | July 1 | 9:30 pm | England | | 9: Belgium vs Senegal | July 2 | 1:30 am | Belgium | | 10: USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | July 2 | 5:30 am | USA | | 11: Spain vs Austria | July 3 | 12:30 am | Spain | | 12: Portugal vs Croatia | July 3 | 4:30 am | Portugal | | 13: Switzerland vs Algeria | July 3 | 8:30 am | Switzerland | | 14: Australia vs Egypt | July 3 | 11:30 pm | Egypt | | 15: Argentina vs Cape Verde | July 4 | 3:30 am | Argentina | | 16: Colombia vs Ghana | July 4 | 7:00 am | Colombia |
Round of 16
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | A: Canada vs Morocco | July 4 | 10:30 pm | Morocco | | B: Paraguay vs France | July 5 | 2:30 am | France | | C: Brazil vs Norway | July 6 | 1:30 am | Norway | | D: Mexico vs England | July 6 | 5:30 am | England | | E: Spain vs Portugal | July 7 | 12:30 am | Spain | | F: Belgium vs USA | July 7 | 5:30 am | Belgium | | G: Egypt vs Argentina | July 7 | 9:30 pm | Argentina | | H: Switzerland vs Colombia | July 8 | 1:30 am | Switzerland |
Quarterfinals
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Q1: Morocco vs France | July 10 | 1:30 am | France | | Q2: Spain vs Belgium | July 11 | 12:30 am | Spain | | Q3: Norway vs England | July 12 | 2:30 am | England | | Q4: Argentina vs Switzerland | July 12 | 6:30 am | Argentina |
Semifinals
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | S1: France vs Spain | July 15 | 12:30 am | Spain | | S2: England vs Argentina | July 16 | 12:30 am | Argentina |
Final
| Teams | Date | Time (IST) | Winner | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Final: Spain vs Argentina | July 20 | 12:30 am | TBD |
Note: 'TBD' is an abbreviation of 'To be decided'. The knockout matches will determine which countries play against each other.
Published - June 25, 2026, 04:42 pm 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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