After 72 games over 17 days in the group stage, the first 48-team World Cup has officially reduced to the 32 that will contest the knockout rounds.
If that doesn’t feel like much of a reduction, you aren’t alone. The old adage that the World Cup is really two tournaments in one, the group stage and the knockouts, feels more true than ever this summer.
But now the drama kicks up another gear, as it’s win or go home for every team left standing. Here’s what to know about the 32 games left to go between now and the July 19 final in north Jersey.
All games are televised on Fox29 in English and Telemundo 62 in Spanish, except for two in the round of 32 on FS1: Belgium vs. Senegal on July 1 and Switzerland vs. Algeria on July 2. All times listed below are local to Philadelphia.
Round of 32 schedule
The number and letter next to each country denotes where it placed in its group during group stage games.
Sunday
3 p.m.: 2A. South Africa vs. 2B. Canada in Inglewood, Calif.
Monday
1 p.m.: 1C. Brazil vs. 2F. Japan in Houston
4:30 p.m.: 1E. Germany vs. 3D. Paraguay in Foxborough, Mass.
9 p.m.: 1F. Netherlands vs. 2C. Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico
Tuesday
1 p.m.: 2E. Ivory Coast vs. 2I. Norway in Arlington, Texas
5 p.m.: 1I. France vs. 3F. Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J.
9 p.m.: 1A. Mexico vs. 3E. Ecuador in Mexico City
Wednesday
Noon: 1L. England vs. 3K. Democratic Republic of the Congo in Atlanta
4 p.m.: 1G. Belgium vs. A3. Senegal in Seattle
8 p.m.: 1D. United States vs. 3B. Bosnia & Herzegovina in Santa Clara, Calif.
Thursday
3 p.m.: 1H. Spain vs. 2J. Austria in Inglewood, Calif.
7 p.m.: 2K. Portugal vs. 2L. Croatia in Toronto
11 p.m.: 1B. Switzerland vs. 3J. Algeria in Vancouver, B.C.
Friday
2 p.m.: 2D. Australia vs. 2G. Egypt in Arlington, Texas
6 p.m.: 1J. Argentina vs. 2H. Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla.
9:30 p.m.: 1K. Colombia vs. 3L. Ghana in Kansas City, Mo.
Round of 16
July 4
1 p.m.: South Africa or Canada vs. Netherlands or Morocco in Houston
5 p.m.: Germany or Paraguay vs. France or Sweden in Philadelphia
July 5
4 p.m.: Brazil or Japan vs. Ivory Coast or Norway in East Rutherford, N.J.
8 p.m.: Mexico or Ecuador vs. England or D.R. Congo in Mexico City
July 6
3 p.m.: Portugal or Croatia vs. Spain or Austria in Arlington, Texas
8 p.m.: United States or Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Belgium or Senegal in Seattle
July 7
Noon: Argentina or Cape Verde vs. Australia or Egypt in Atlanta
4 p.m.: Switzerland or Algeria vs. Colombia or Ghana in Vancouver, B.C.
Quarterfinals
July 9
4 p.m.: Germany, Paraguay, France, or Sweden vs. South Africa, Canada, Netherlands, or Morocco in Foxborough, Mass. (winner goes to semifinal 1)
July 10
3 p.m.: Portugal, Croatia, Spain, or Austria vs. United States, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, or Senegal in Inglewood, Calif. (winner goes to semifinal 1)
July 11
5 p.m.: Brazil, Japan, Ivory Coast, or Norway vs. Mexico, Ecuador, England, or D.R. Congo in Miami Gardens, Fla. (winner goes to semifinal 2)
9 p.m.: Argentina, Cape Verde, Australia, or Egypt vs. Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia, or Ghana in Atlanta (winner goes to semifinal 2)
Semifinals and beyond
July 14
3 p.m.: Semifinal 1 in Arlington, Texas
July 15
3 p.m.: Semifinal 2 in Atlanta
July 18
5 p.m.: Third place game in Miami Gardens, Fla.
July 19
3 p.m.: Final in East Rutherford, N.J.
In this World Cup, underdogs are stealing the spotlight, the U.S. men are on a roll, and Philadelphia has not only welcomed the world but has given visitors a crash course on just how real the curse of the Rocky Statue can be.
Join Jonathan Tannenwald, the Inquirer’s soccer writer, and host Lisa Carlin, analyst for CBS Sports Golazo, as they dissect the matches, the moments, and more as Philly has its moment in soccer’s brightest spotlight. Watch our latest episode right here.
Watch previous episodes:
Episode 1: The Wait is Over!
Episode 2: Groups, Goals, and Glory
Episode 3: Electric Action in Philly
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