This Thursday, the Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup kicks off with three high-octane matches featuring European teams Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland. The games promise excitement from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
The day begins at 3:00 PM Cuban time at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, where Spain will face Austria, aiming to secure a spot in the Round of 16.
Spain enters as one of the tournament's strongest sides, topping Group H with seven points, maintaining a clean sheet, and delivering impressive performances such as a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia — with goals from Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal — and a 1-0 victory over Uruguay thanks to Álex Baena.
Austria, on the other hand, hasn't reached the knockout stages of a World Cup since Spain 1982, 44 years ago. They arrive with momentum after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Algeria in the group stage, highlighted by Sasa Kalajdzic's equalizer in the 90th minute.
Under the guidance of Ralf Rangnick, renowned for his intense pressing style, Austria finished second in Group J with four points and seeks to be the tournament's surprise package.
At 7:00 PM Cuban time, the BMO Field in Toronto will host the clash between Portugal and Croatia, considered the most enticing matchup of the day.
The Portuguese team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has made history by scoring in six different World Cups and achieving a record 10 World Cup goals for Portugal, is a force to be reckoned with.
Yet, their path in the group stage was shaky; they progressed as runners-up in Group K with five points, drawing with DR Congo, thrashing Uzbekistan 5-0, and settling for a goalless draw with Colombia.
Croatia had an inconsistent journey too, suffering a 4-2 defeat to England in their opener but bouncing back with wins over Panama and Ghana to finish second in Group L with six points.
With Luka Modrić as the team’s engine and a historically favorable record for Portugal — six wins, one draw, and one loss in eight encounters — this match is set to be one of the most contested of the round.
The day concludes at 11:00 PM Cuban time at Vancouver's BC Place, where Switzerland will face Algeria, with the Europeans entering as favorites.
Switzerland topped their group after a 4-1 victory over Bosnia and a 2-1 win against Canada, while Algeria secured their spot with a memorable 3-3 draw against Austria.
Riyad Mahrez, a standout for Algeria with two goals and an assist in the group stage, poses a significant threat to a Swiss team eager to solidify their strong tournament performance and advance to the Round of 16.
This Round of 32 is a historic first, introduced in this expanded edition featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. The outcomes of Thursday's games will determine new qualifiers to join England, Belgium, and the United States, who have already secured their places in the next stage.
Key Highlights and Expectations for the World Cup Matches
What time do the World Cup matches start on Thursday?
The matches start at 3:00 PM Cuban time in Los Angeles, followed by a 7:00 PM kickoff in Toronto and concluding with an 11:00 PM game in Vancouver.
Who are the key players to watch in these matches?
Key players include Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez.
What is significant about this World Cup's Round of 32?
This Round of 32 is historically significant as it is the first time the World Cup has been expanded to include 48 teams and 104 matches.