The group stage ends today.
The Round of 32 begins tomorrow June 28.
England, France, Argentina, Brazil, Spain,
Germany, Netherlands, Portugal — all are through
or on the verge of qualifying tonight.
Here is your complete guide to the knockout stage.
What Is the Round of 32
For the first time in World Cup history,
the knockout stage begins with a Round of 32 —
32 teams competing in single-elimination matches.
This expanded format means more matches,
more upsets, and more football before the
quarterfinals than any previous World Cup.
How to Watch the Round of 32 in the UK (Free)
Every Round of 32 match is free in the UK
on BBC or ITV.
Check the BBC Sport and ITV Sport websites
for confirmed broadcast allocations for each match.
Smart Live TV includes all BBC and ITV
World Cup feeds plus beIN Sports for Arabic
commentary on every match.
From £12/month — free trial available →
England's Knockout Path
England qualify from Group L tonight.
Topping the group gives them the easier bracket.
Every England knockout match will be on
BBC or ITV — free in the UK.
If watching from outside the UK:
Smart Live TV carries all England matches
with no geo-block and no VPN required.
The Biggest Stories Going Into the Knockouts
Cape Verde vs Argentina
Cape Verde held Saudi Arabia and qualified.
They face defending champions Argentina
and Messi in what could be the upset of the tournament.
Spain looking dominant
Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 with Lamine Yamal
scoring his first World Cup goal.
Germany in form
Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1 after their
7-1 demolition of Curaçao in the group stage.
Japan impressive
Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 and drew 2-2 with Netherlands.
Watching the World Cup Knockouts From Abroad
BBC iPlayer and ITVX are geoblocked outside the UK.
Smart Live TV carries every World Cup 2026 match
— group stage and all knockout rounds —
via BBC, ITV and beIN Sports feeds.
No VPN. No geo-restriction. Works from anywhere.
Free 24-hour trial — no card needed →
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the World Cup Round of 32 start?
June 28, 2026. The first matches kick off
on Sunday afternoon UK time.
How many teams are in the Round of 32?
32 teams. The top two from each of the 12 groups
plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance.
Is the Round of 32 free to watch in the UK?
Yes. All knockout matches are on BBC or ITV.
Check BBC Sport and ITV Sport for individual
match broadcast allocations.
What channel is England's Round of 32 match on?
This depends on group position confirmed tonight.
Check ITV Sport and BBC Sport tomorrow
for England's confirmed knockout fixture and channel.
Can I watch World Cup knockouts on Firestick?
Yes. BBC iPlayer and ITVX apps are both available
free on Firestick. See our
Firestick setup guide →