when does knockout round start world cup

The 2026 World Cup knockout stage starts on Sunday, June 28, 2026, with the round of 32.

The knockout phase runs like this:

• Round of 32: June 28 to July 3.

• Round of 16: July 4 to July 7.

• Quarterfinals: July 9 to July 11.

• Semifinals: July 14 to July 15.

• Third-place match: July 18.

• Final: July 19.

If you want the exact first knockout matches and kickoff times, I can lay them out too.