The Round of 32 is where the 2026 World Cup turns to single elimination. World Cup 2026 Round of 32 tickets cover all 16 knockout ties, played from 28 June to 3 July across the host venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This round did not exist in the old 32-team format. It is new for 2026, the first cut of the expanded tournament, and the point at which a single result ends a campaign.
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Thirty-two teams reach this stage: the 12 group winners, the 12 runners-up and the eight best third-placed sides from the World Cup 2026 group stage. Sixteen of them will be gone within six days. Because the bracket is set by group position rather than by name, you can secure a seat at a specific match well before the two teams are confirmed, which is the part most buyers want explained. The sections below cover the schedule, how that works, what seats cost, and how to buy.
1BoxOffice has operated as a verified ticket marketplace since 2006, with a 150% money-back guarantee and English and Arabic customer support. Knockout inventory moves faster than the group stage, so the earlier you lock a slot, the more choice you have over category and position.
The expansion to 48 teams created this round. After the group stage ends on 27 June, the top two from each of the 12 groups go through automatically, joined by the eight best third-placed teams across all groups. That makes 32 qualifiers and 16 single-elimination ties.
From here, there are no draws and no points. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the match goes to extra time, and then to a penalty shoot-out if still level. The 16 winners advance to the Round of 16, and the 16 losers are out. The round runs across six consecutive days, with two or three matches a day, and games involving teams from the same group are scheduled at the same time on the final days to keep the bracket fair.
The bracket pairings are fixed in advance, even though the teams are not. A slot reads as a group position, for example, the Group A winner against one of the best third-placed sides, and it resolves to a named fixture the moment the group standings are final. That structure is what lets the resale market list these matches now.
All 16 ties, with the bracket position, venue and date for each. Open a match to see live listings for that slot.
| Match | Fixture | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 73 | Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 28 June |
| Match 74 | Group E winners vs best third from A/B/C/D/F | Gillette Stadium, Boston | 29 June |
| Match 75 | Group F winners vs Group C runners-up | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | 29 June |
| Match 76 | Group C winners vs Group F runners-up | NRG Stadium, Houston | 29 June |
| Match 77 | Group I winners vs best third from C/D/F/G/H | MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey | 30 June |
| Match 78 | Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 30 June |
| Match 79 | Group A winners vs best third from C/E/F/H/I | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 30 June |
| Match 80 | Group L winners vs best third from E/H/I/J/K | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 1 July |
| Match 81 | Group D winners vs best third from B/E/F/I/J | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | 1 July |
| Match 82 | Group G winners vs best third from A/E/H/I/J | Lumen Field, Seattle | 1 July |
| Match 83 | Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up | BMO Field, Toronto | 2 July |
| Match 84 | Group H winners vs Group J runners-up | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 2 July |
| Match 85 | Group B winners vs best third from E/F/G/I/J | BC Place, Vancouver | 2 July |
| Match 86 | Group J winners vs Group H runners-up | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 3 July |
| Match 87 | Group K winners vs best third from D/E/I/J/L | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 3 July |
| Match 88 | Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 3 July |
This is the question that holds most buyers back, so it is worth being plain about. A Round of 32 ticket is tied to a match slot, which means a fixed date, a fixed venue and a fixed bracket position, not to two named teams. When you buy Match 79 at the Estadio Azteca, you are buying the seat for whoever finishes top of Group A against whichever third-placed team is drawn into that slot.
The teams are confirmed once the group stage finishes on 27 June. Until then, the matchup shows as a bracket position. Your ticket is valid for that slot regardless of which sides qualify for it, so the seat is secure even though the names are not yet printed. The trade-off is straightforward. Buy early, and you fix the venue, date and category while choice is widest, but you do not yet know the teams. Wait until 27 June and you know the matchup, but the best seats for the stronger ties tend to be gone, and prices on those move quickly.
For buyers chasing a specific nation, the safer route is to track which group that team is likely to win or finish second in, then target the bracket slot their position feeds into. The schedule table above shows exactly which group position lands in each match.
With teams unconfirmed, demand concentrates on two things: the host slots and the group-winner slots most likely to produce a contender. Match 79 at the Estadio Azteca carries the Group A winner, the slot Mexico will occupy if they top their group, and a knockout night in Mexico City is among the most sought-after tickets of the round. Match 77 at MetLife and the two SoFi Stadium ties, Match 73 and Match 84, draw the same host-market pull.
Group-winner slots are the next tier, since topping a group should mean a stronger side and an easier draw on paper. The runner-up against runner-up ties, such as Match 73 and Match 88, are harder to read and can offer better value, because neither slot guarantees a marquee name. The third-placed team slots are the wild cards of the round and often carry the lowest floors.
Knockout seats sit above group-stage prices. Five factors set the figure on any slot: whether a host nation feeds into it, the seating category, the venue size, the strength of the group positions involved and how close the match sits to kick-off. Primary-sale Round of 32 face values were structured higher than the group stage across all four categories, and the resale market reflects that, with the host slots at the top of the range.
| Category | Typical location | Approx resale range (GBP) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 4 | Upper corners and upper tier behind the goals | From approximately £140 | Attending a knockout tie on the lowest budget |
| Category 3 | Upper tier longside and lower behind the goals | Approximately £170 to £450 | A clear view at mid-range cost |
| Category 2 | Lower tier wide and upper tier central | Approximately £380 to £1,100 | Balancing position against price |
| Category 1 | Lower tier central, around the halfway line | Approximately £750 to £2,800 plus | The best sightlines for host and contender slots |
| Hospitality | Premium lounges, suites and club seats | From approximately £1,600 | Catering, lounge access and a guaranteed premium seat |
These brackets span all 16 ties, so a host slot in Category 1 can cost several times a third-placed-team slot in the same category. Prices are aggregated from secondary-market listings and shift with demand, and they tend to firm up once the teams are confirmed on 27 June. The figure on each match page is the one that applies.
No membership is needed to attend a knockout match. The primary-sale routes were the random selection draws, the team and supporter packages sold through national associations, and the host-city release windows run by the tournament organisers. Those windows released seats in batches, with a last-minute sales section handling the remainder closer to kick-off.
For the knockout rounds, those routes are tighter still, because supporter allocations depend on a team qualifying and are released late. That leaves the resale market as the practical way to fix a knockout seat in advance. Buying through a verified marketplace means the listing is checked, the seat is confirmed, and the order is protected, rather than relying on a private transfer with no recourse.
1BoxOffice has sold live event tickets since 2006, with a 150% money-back guarantee and English and Arabic support. Buying a knockout slot takes eight steps.
Step1
Choose your match slot
Use the schedule above or the fixture list to pick a Round of 32 slot by venue and date. Each slot has its own page with live listings.
Step2
Compare categories
Review the seating categories and prices that match. The page shows where each block sits and the current floor for the slot.
Step3
Select your seats
Pick the quantity and listing that fit your budget and position. Filter for seats together if your party needs them, as knockout blocks sell faster.
Step4
Review the order
Check the match, date, venue and category before you proceed. Remember, the seat is tied to the slot, valid for whichever teams qualify for it.
Step5
Create an account
You can create an account to track the purchase and receive delivery updates as the teams are confirmed.
Step6
Pay securely
Complete checkout with card, Apple Pay or Google Pay over an encrypted connection. Your details are not shared with third-party vendors.
Step7
Receive confirmation
You get an order confirmation straight away, with delivery details for the slot. Most knockout seats are delivered to mobile ahead of the match.
Step8
Track your order
Follow progress through the track order page, and reach support in English or Arabic if you have a question.
Round of 32 tickets are delivered in a few formats depending on the seller and the venue. The tournament has leaned heavily on mobile delivery through its app, so most buyers should expect a mobile ticket, often issued once the teams are confirmed.
| Delivery type | What to check |
|---|---|
| Mobile transfer | That you can install the required app and sign in before matchday, and that your phone is charged on the day |
| E-ticket PDF | That the PDF opens and the QR code is clear, with a backup saved offline |
| Hospitality wristband or pass | The collection point, the time window and any dress code for the lounge |
| Will-call collection | The collection location, the ID required and how early the desk opens |
Bring photo ID that matches the booking, arrive early for security, and check the venue bag policy in advance. Knockout crowds build earlier than group games, and host-nation ties draw the largest queues of all.
Knockout travel needs a little more planning because the teams are unknown until late June. Matches in the United States require entry clearance for most non-citizens: travellers from visa-waiver countries need an approved ESTA, while others need a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa, which should be applied for well ahead of time. Canada uses an eTA for visa-exempt visitors, and Mexico has its own rules, so a slot in Toronto, Vancouver or Monterrey involves a different system from the US ties.
Because a Round of 32 slot is fixed to a city and date, you can book travel and accommodation around the venue before you know the teams. Keep accommodation refundable until your seats are confirmed and delivered, and build a little flexibility into return dates, since the result you want to follow could send a team into the next round in a different city.
The 16 winners carry into the Round of 16 tickets from 4 July, then the Quarter-final tickets from 9 July. The Semi-final tickets follow on 14 and 15 July, leading to the Final tickets at MetLife Stadium on 19 July, where prices reach their tournament peak. Many fans pair a Round of 32 slot with a later-round match in the same host city to build a fuller trip.
The Round of 32 is the first knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, a new stage created by the expansion to 48 teams. Thirty-two qualifiers from the group stage play 16 single-elimination ties. The 16 winners go through to the Round of 16, and the losers are out of the tournament.
The Round of 32 runs across six days, from Sunday 28 June to Friday 3 July 2026. There are two or three matches a day, spread across the host venues. The Round of 16 then begins on 4 July, and the tournament ends with the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium.
Thirty-two teams qualify from the group stage: the 12 group winners, the 12 group runners-up and the eight best third-placed sides across all 12 groups. They are seeded into a fixed bracket by group position, which is why each Round of 32 slot is known in advance, even before the teams are confirmed.
Yes. A Round of 32 ticket is tied to a match slot, meaning a fixed date, venue and bracket position, not to two named teams. You buy the seat for whoever qualifies for that slot. The teams are confirmed once the group stage finishes on 27 June, and your ticket stays valid regardless of who comes through.
Nothing changes for you. The slot you bought resolves into a named fixture when the group standings are final on 27 June, and the same seat applies. You receive delivery details for the confirmed match. Prices on the open market often firm up at that point, which is why buying the slot early can secure a better position for less.
Knockout prices sit above the group stage. Value categories on the lower-demand slots are listed from around £140, while Category 1 seats for host and group-winner ties reach £2,800 or more. Hospitality starts from around £1,600. The figure on each match page is the live floor for that specific slot.
Seats are sold across four categories plus hospitality. Category 1 is the most central, usually a lower-tier near the halfway line. Category 2 covers the wider lower tier and central upper tier. Category 3 is the upper-tier longside and lower behind the goals. Category 4 is the upper corners and is the lowest-priced option.
The host slots draw the most interest. Match 79 at the Estadio Azteca carries the Group A winner, the slot Mexico would take by topping their group, and it is among the most sought-after of the round. The MetLife slot, Match 77, and the two SoFi Stadium ties, Match 73 and Match 84, follow close behind.
There are no draws in the knockouts. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the match goes to 30 minutes of extra time. If it is still level, it is decided by a penalty shoot-out. Your ticket covers the full match, including extra time and penalties, so there is nothing extra to buy on the day.
Most knockout seats are delivered to mobile, with the tournament leaning on app-based delivery, often once the teams are confirmed. Some listings arrive as an e-ticket PDF, hospitality as a wristband or pass, and a few via will-call collection. Install any required app and sign in before matchday, and keep a charged phone with you.
Most non-citizens do. Travellers from visa-waiver countries need an approved ESTA, while others need a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa, applied for early. Canada uses an eTA for visa-exempt visitors, and Mexico has separate rules, so a slot in Toronto, Vancouver or Monterrey involves a different entry system from the US ties.
It means that if valid tickets are not delivered in time for the match, or the order cannot be honoured, you are covered beyond a standard refund. Every Round of 32 order on 1BoxOffice carries this guarantee, alongside encrypted checkout and English and Arabic support. It is the protection that separates a verified marketplace from a private transfer.
For questions on payment, delivery, the guarantee and account management, see the full FAQ. For anything specific to a single slot, open that match page from the schedule above, where the live price, venue and delivery details for that tie are shown.
Sources: Round of 32 bracket, venues and dates verified via NBC Sports and USA Today schedule reporting and cross-checked against live 1BoxOffice fixture listings. Tournament format and the new Round of 32 confirmed via the official tournament schedule. Primary-sale category bands per Sports Illustrated reporting on official ticket pricing. Resale ranges aggregated from live 1BoxOffice listings observed on 25 May 2026.
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