when does world cup round of 32 start

The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 starts on Sunday, June 28, 2026 , with the knockout matches running through Friday, July 3. The first match listed is South Africa vs. Canada on June 28.

Schedule

• Start: June 28, 2026

• End: July 3, 2026

• Next round: Round of 16 begins July 4

First kickoff

The opening round-of-32 match is South Africa vs. Canada at Los Angeles Stadium. In local U.S. timing shown by the sources, it kicks off at noon PT / 3 p.m. ET.

Item| Date
---|---
Round of 32 start| June 28, 2026 23
First match| South Africa vs Canada 13
Round of 32 ends| July 3, 2026 23

TL;DR: It starts June 28, 2026.