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The round of 32 at the World Cup is set.
The knockout stage begins on Monday (AEST) as Canada faces South Africa in southern California.
We take a look at the schedule – and the match-ups – for the first knockout round of the expanded competition.
Monday
South Africa v Canada
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), 5am
These nations have already made history. It’ll be the first time both are in the knockout stage of the World Cup. Canada advanced as runners-up in group B with four points – one win, one draw and one loss. South Africa were runners-up in group A, also with four points, including a surprising win over South Korea.
Tuesday
Brazil v Japan
NRG Stadium (Houston), 3am
Japan advanced as group F runners-up with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Sweden and the Samurai Blue’s reward is a knockout match against five-time World Cup champions Brazil. It’ll be a full-circle moment for Japan: the country brought in Brazilian great Zico in 1991 to professionalise the country’s new domestic league and support Japan’s successful bid to co-host the World Cup in 2002. Now, the Japanese have a chance to show how far they’ve come against a country that has set the standard.
Germany v Paraguay
Gillette Stadium (Foxborough), 6.30am
Germany come into the knockout stage off a low-key late defeat, having already clinched their group with little to play for. Germany are significant favourites against Paraguay, who lost to the US 4-1 in their opener but steadied enough to move on.
Netherlands v Morocco
Estadio BBVA (Monterrey), 11am
The Netherlands won group F after a draw with Japan and outscoring Sweden and Tunisia by a combined 8-2. Morocco went unbeaten to finish second in group C in pursuit of becoming the first African winners of the World Cup. Morocco reached the semi-finals four years ago in Qatar.
Wednesday
Ivory Coast v Norway
AT&T Stadium (Arlington), 3am
It would have taken beating favoured France for Norway to win group I. Instead, coach Ståle Solbakken opted to rest Erling Haaland and all but one starter. That sets up a match-up against the Ivory Coast at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas.
France v Sweden
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford), 7am
France came in as the tournament favourites and remain so after winning all three of their group games to set up a match-up against Sweden, who had a 5-1 win, a 5-1 loss and a draw.
Mexico v Ecuador
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), 11am
Winning all three of their group stage matches for the first time at the World Cup, Mexico go into the round of 32 also having not allowed a single goal. They have outscored opponents 6-0 and now have the distinct home-field advantage at altitude back at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City against Ecuador, who rallied to beat Germany and advance.
Thursday
England v Congo
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), 2am
It took Jude Bellingham scoring and setting up Harry Kane’s goal to break a tie with Panama, but England got the job done to finish first in their group. Injuries are a question now, going into a match-up with Congo, who rallied to defeat Uzbekistan and advance.
Belgium v Senegal
Lumen Field (Seattle), 6am
Belgium scored five times in their group play finale against New Zealand to not only advance but finish first. Up next is no easy task: a match-up against Senegal, who played France and Norway tough and routed Iraq to move on. The US-Bosnia-Herzegovina winner faces the winner of this match.
US v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara), 10am
The Americans had their powerful momentum from two consecutive victories stalled in the loss to Turkey. But in the knockout round, they’ll face Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are 62nd in the FIFA rankings. Bosnia finished third in group B with four points.
Friday
Spain v Austria
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), 5am
Spain bounced back from a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their first game to win their group, in the process sending two-time champions Uruguay home. Austria tied it in the final minutes after falling behind earlier in stoppage time to play Algeria to a 3-3 draw and set up this match-up.
Portugal v Croatia
BMO Field (Toronto), 9am
Playing Colombia to a 0-0 tie meant a second-place finish in the group for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal and a tougher path, which could include facing neighbours Spain for a spot in the quarter-finals. Croatia moved into this spot by defeating Ghana hours earlier.
Switzerland v Algeria
BC Place (Vancouver), 1pm
This was supposed to be Canada’s spot in Vancouver, but Switzerland winning the teams’ head-to-head match-up there and finishing ahead in the group gave the Swiss a plum spot. Algeria took a late lead on Austria before allowing the tying goal in the final minutes, leading to a 3-3 draw, and getting both teams in and eliminating Iran.
Saturday
Australia v Egypt
AT&T Stadium (Arlington), 4am
This may be one of the most evenly matched round of 32 games, after Australia beat Turkey, lost to the US and drew with Paraguay. Egypt got through as the second-placed team in group G after a late goal by Iran was called back for offside.
Argentina v Cape Verde
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens), 8am
Defending champions Argentina face the smallest country to qualify for the knockout stage at a World Cup. Unsurprisingly, Cape Verde go in as massive underdogs.
Colombia v Ghana
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), 11.30am
Passing Portugal for first in the group allows Colombia to open the knockout stage against Ghana, who entered with the lowest FIFA ranking at No.74 but also played England to a scoreless tie.
