World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Predictions and Best Bets for June 29

The most expansive World Cup yet will see the Group Stage conclude on Saturday. The Round of 32 World Cup 2026 will kick off the next day with South Africa facing Canada at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, but it will really get going in earnest on Monday, June 29, 2026, with three matches. Five-time champions Brazil will start the day with a tough test against Japan, and four-time champions Germany will follow. The action will conclude with the Netherlands facing Morocco in a very intriguing match. Check out our World Cup Round of 32 predictions below and get in on the action!

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What Is the Round of 32 in the World Cup?

This will be the first Round of 32 World Cup knockout stage ever. Previously, there were 32 total teams that took part in the World Cup, but the expanded tournament has led to an expanded knockout round. There will be 31 single elimination matches to determine the World Cup champion.

How Teams Advance to the Round of 32

As we saw with previous World Cups, the top two teams in each group will automatically advance to the knockout rounds. However, they will now also be joined by the top eight third-place teams. The general rule of thumb has been that four points should be good enough to advance out of the Group Stage. 

How the World Cup Round of 32 Bracket Works

Teams are automatically slotted into the World Cup Round of 32 bracket by a pre-determined draw. It does get a bit tricky with the third-place teams, as they can be moved around a bit, but the World Cup knockout bracket Round of 32 will be settled by the conclusion of all Group Stage matches.

World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Matches Today

The Round of 32 World Cup 2026 will enter its second day of matches on Monday, June 29, 2026. Five-time champions Brazil, four-time champions Germany, and three-time runners-up the Netherlands will all be favored per the World Cup betting odds.

Today’s Round of 32 World Cup Predictions

This will be arguably the best day of the Round of 32 World Cup matches. Although Germany will be a massive favorite and is expected to romp over their opponent, the other two matches figure to be very intriguing. Japan is a very live underdog against Brazil after the Japanese defeated Brazil for the first time ever at the Kirin Challenge Cup in mid-October. Meanwhile, we will see a fascinating clash of styles when the Netherlands and Morocco take the pitch so check out the World Cup Round of 32 predictions.

Brazil vs. Japan Prediction and Preview

This will be the fifth time that Samurai Blue have made it out of the Group Stage and into the knockout rounds. Unfortunately for Japan, they have been eliminated in their first match of the knockout rounds in each of their previous four appearances. Two of those defeats were by a single goal, while the other two losses came in penalty kicks. Japan have been steeled by rough draws in each of the last two World Cups, so I believe the third time will be the charm and lead to a stunning early elimination of Brazil.

Germany vs. TBD Prediction and Preview

Although Germany lost their final match of the Group Stage, they had already clinched the top spot in Group E after wins over Ivory Coast and Curacao. Germany will have to wait to see Friday’s results before knowing their opponent on Monday, but there’s little doubt that the Germans will be heavily favored. Their most likely opponent is Paraguay, but Germany could still be drawn against either Scotland or Sweden.

Netherlands vs. Morocco Prediction and Preview

The Dutch were extremely dominant in a difficult group, so it feels a bit unfair that they are now paired against 2022 World Cup semifinalist Morocco. The Netherlands are currently tied with Germany for the most goals at this World Cup with 10, but the Oranje have done it against much more difficult competition. Morocco are a dangerous team due to their wingers and their ability to counter, yet I believe the Flying Dutchmen will prevail.

World Cup Round of 32 Bracket Outlook

There is still much to be determined with the World Cup Round of 32 bracket as only four of the 16 potential matchups had been finalized following Match 60. Argentina have a great potential draw provided Spain don’t finish runner-up in their group, while Brazil have a much tougher road. Brazil will face Japan and then either Ivory Coast, Norway, or France in the Round of 16, and all those teams could send the Selecao to an early exit.

Potential Paths to the Next Round

If France defeats Norway on Friday, there is a strong possibility that Germany and France meet in the Round of 16 in Philadelphia. That would be a monumental match for both teams, and a very early threat for a Les Bleus squad that is currently favored to win the World Cup.

Matchups That Could Shape the Bracket

England will likely face a relatively easy opponent in the Round of 32 if the Three Lions can win Group L, but they can’t be happy to see their likely Round of 16 opponent. If England does win Group L and win their Round of 32 match in Atlanta, they have to travel to Estadio Azteca to take on Mexico in Mexico City. That will undoubtedly be a raucous atmosphere to walk into for one of the tournament favorites. 

Daily Round of 32 World Cup Summary

My favorite bet in the opening Round of 32 World Cup matches is the game involving Germany. I like the first half to go under the total, especially if Germany plays Paraguay. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann is very tactical and keen with halftime adjustments, so I believe that match will have a relatively listless first 45 minutes.

The best value on the day lies in Japan. Brazil should definitely be favored in this match, but the Japanese are tenacious in the midfield. We saw Brazil settle for a 1-1 draw against Morocco, and they weren’t tested by either Scotland or Haiti, so there are still a lot of unknowns with this squad.

I’ll round out my World Cup Round of 32 predictions by predicting the Netherlands to beat Morocco by an exact scoreline of 2-1. Morocco are dangerous on the wings and on the counter, but the Dutch have too much firepower and can give the Atlas Lions serious problems in defense. 

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