NEW YORK — FIFA confirmed the round-of-16 schedule for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, completing the knockout bracket after the final group-stage matches were played across the three host nations. The governing body published kickoff times and venues for the first elimination round.

The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, producing a 12-group format that sent the top two from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers into the round of 32. The group phase delivered several upsets and record-breaking individual performances during its opening fortnight.

Lionel Messi entered the knockout phase as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, having surpassed Miroslav Klose's tournament record during Argentina's group campaign. England advanced from the group stage, as did Ghana, whose qualification was determined in the closing fixtures.

Organisers reported record cumulative attendance, with several matches at MetLife Stadium, AT&T Stadium and Estadio Azteca selling out. FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the group stage the most-watched in the tournament's history during a briefing in New York.

The first knockout matches are scheduled to begin within days, with FIFA confirming rest periods and travel arrangements for qualified teams across the continent-spanning host map.