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World Cup bracket predictions 2026: Our pick for every knockout game

June 28, 2026, 12:18 a.m. ET

The 2026 World Cup is officially on to the knockout rounds, with 32 teams moving on to the single-elimination stage of the tournament.

Other than Cape Verde finishing runner-up in a group that featured two past champions, there aren't many surprises among the teams who moved on and the bracket still sets up for semifinals with the top four teams in the FIFA rankings: France, Argentina, Spain and England.

Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina will begin their knockout journey against Cape Verde, the smallest country to ever advance past the group stage.

Who will lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium on July 19?

Here's how the USA TODAY Sports soccer writers and editors see the bracket shaking out:

See the full World Cup bracket

Jon Arnold

Round of 32

Winners: Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United States, Belgium, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Mexico, England, Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, Colombia

Round of 16

  • France over Germany
  • Netherlands over Canada 
  • Spain over Portugal
  • United States over Belgium
  • Brazil over Ivory Coast
  • England over Mexico
  • Argentina over Australia
  • Colombia over Switzerland

Quarterfinals

  • France over Netherlands
  • Spain over United States
  • England over Brazil
  • Argentina over Colombia

Semifinals

  • France over Spain
  • Argentina over England

Final

  • Argentina over France

Jesse Yomtov

Round of 32 picks

Winners: Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, United States, Belgium, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, England, Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, Ghana

Round of 16

  • France over Germany
  • Netherlands over Canada 
  • Spain over Croatia
  • Belgium over United States 
  • Brazil over Norway
  • England over Mexico
  • Argentina over Australia
  • Ghana over Switzerland

Quarterfinals

  • France over Netherlands
  • Spain over Belgium
  • England over Brazil
  • Argentina over Ghana

Semifinals

  • Spain over France
  • England over Argentina

Final

  • England over Spain

Victoria Hernandez

Round of 32 picks

Winners: Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, France, Ivory Coast, Mexico, England, United States, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Ghana, Egypt

Round of 16

  • France over Germany
  • Netherlands over Canada
  • Spain over Croatia
  • Belgium over United States
  • Brazil over Ivory Coast
  • England over Mexico
  • Argentina over Egypt
  • Ghana over Switzerland

Quarterfinals

  • France over Netherlands
  • Belgium over Spain
  • England over Brazil
  • Argentina over Ghana

Semifinals

  • France over Belgium
  • Argentina over England

Final

  • France over Argentina

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