The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 begins Monday July 6, and after a wild Round of 32 that saw at least three major upsets, we now have 16 nations left standing. Here are the predictions, top match-ups to watch, and where to stream every game live and free on VividTV.
All eight Round of 16 matches take place July 6-8, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals starting July 9.
Round of 16 Match Schedule
Eight matches, three days, three time zones. Here is when they play (all times ET, add 5 hours for UK, add 9.5 hours for India):
- July 6: Match 61 (Dallas, 12:00 ET), Match 62 (Kansas City, 15:00 ET), Match 63 (Miami, 18:00 ET), Match 64 (New York, 21:00 ET)
- July 7: Match 65 (Los Angeles, 15:00 ET), Match 66 (Atlanta, 18:00 ET)
- July 8: Match 67 (Guadalajara, 15:00 ET), Match 68 (Toronto, 18:00 ET)
See the full FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule for the complete bracket.
Pre-Tournament Favourites vs Current Form
Going into the tournament, the bookmakers had Brazil, France, Argentina, England, Spain and Germany as the top six. After the group stage and Round of 32, the picture has changed considerably. Some teams have peaked early, others have looked shaky, and the dark horses are emerging.
Top Contenders Still Standing
Brazil
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo have both scored in every knockout appearance. Ancelotti’s tactical setup is proving hard to break down. Brazil remain the team to beat.
France
Mbappe is on fire. Deschamps has built a squad with genuine depth in every position. France look like a team that could go all the way for the second time this decade.
Argentina (Defending Champions)
Messi’s final World Cup. Argentina have not been at their best but keep grinding out results. Never write off a team led by that generation.
Spain
Yamal is the tournament’s breakout star. Spain’s tiki-taka is back with a modern edge. Dark horse for the title.
England
Bellingham, Foden, Saka – the golden generation finally clicking. Whether Southgate’s successor can seal the deal is another question.
Round of 16 Predictions
Based on group performance and Round of 32 results, here is how I see the Round of 16 playing out:
- Brazil to beat their opponent 2-0 with Vinicius scoring
- France to advance comfortably against a South American opponent
- Argentina in a nailbiter, possibly to penalties
- Spain to progress with a dominant midfield display
- England vs a European rival – could be the tie of the round
- Germany looking vulnerable, could exit at this stage
- Portugal without Ronaldo (retired 2024) still competitive under new leadership
- A dark-horse upset from either Morocco, Japan, or USA
Best Channels for Round of 16
Every match is live on VividTV. Our top channel picks:
- BEIN Sports MAX 4K: Premium coverage in Ultra HD. See our BEIN Sports MAX guide.
- Fox Sports 1 (US commentary): Best for US-based viewers.
- Sky Sports (UK commentary): British punditry, family-friendly.
- Sony Ten (Hindi commentary): For South Asian fans.
- TSN (Canada): Bilingual English/French coverage.
How to Watch on VividTV
- Go to the FIFA World Cup 2026 hub
- Pick your match from the Round of 16 schedule
- Choose your channel (4K available)
- Press play. Free forever.
Kickoff Times Around the World
A quick reference for the early Round of 16 slots:
- 12:00 ET = 17:00 UK / 21:30 India / 09:00 US West Coast
- 15:00 ET = 20:00 UK / 00:30 India (next day) / 12:00 US West Coast
- 18:00 ET = 23:00 UK / 03:30 India (next day) / 15:00 US West Coast
- 21:00 ET = 02:00 UK (next day) / 06:30 India (next day) / 18:00 US West Coast
Common Questions
What is the Round of 16?
The knockout round where the 16 remaining teams pair off in single-elimination matches. Winner advances to quarterfinals, loser goes home.
Which team is favourite to win the tournament?
Brazil at time of writing, with France and Argentina close behind. But knockout football is unpredictable.
Where can I watch the Round of 16 free?
VividTV streams every match free, no subscription, no signup.
What happens if a match is drawn?
30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout if still level.
Ready for eight matches of knockout football? Head to the FIFA hub now.