Even without the end of the group stage at the 2026 World Cup, the results of the first two rounds already allow us to anticipate what the knockout phase would be like if the tournament ended today. This projection offers a glimpse of possible clashes in the next stage.
This panorama is, however, provisional and subject to drastic changes in the final round, as the small margin of points can completely reconfigure the brackets. Despite the volatility, the current draft of the bracket already points to meetings between some of the strongest teams in the competition.
At the moment, Brazil occupies the lead in Group C with four points, the same score as Morocco, but with an advantage due to goal difference. According to analysis by Opta Analyst, the national team has a 99.8% chance of advancing to the knockout stages.
If the current positions remain, the team led by Carlo Ancelotti would face Sweden in the round of 32.
Scenarios for Brazil’s route in the next phase of the competition
The potential trajectory for the Brazilian team is one of the most challenging in the championship.
If they qualify against Sweden, the team would face the winner of the clash between Ivory Coast and France in the round of 16.
Later, in the quarter-finals, potential opponents would include major powers such as England, Portugal, Spain or Mexico, depending on the results of the sequence of games.
In the other half of the bracket, a possible clash with Germany would only occur at much later stages. The Germans, in this scenario, would have Scotland as their opponent in the round of 16.
First knockout duels according to the current projection
The projected clashes for the round of 32, based on the current scenario, are:
- South Korea x Switzerland (June 28, Sunday)
- Brazil x Sweden (June 29, Monday)
- Germany x Scotland (June 29, Monday)
- Ivory Coast x France (June 30, Tuesday)
- Norway x Japan (June 30, Tuesday)
- Netherlands x Morocco (June 30, Tuesday)
- England x Portugal (July 1st, Wednesday)
- New Zealand v Czech Republic (July 1, Wednesday)
- Mexico x Spain (July 1, Wednesday)
- United States x Ecuador (July 2, Thursday)
- Uruguay x Austria (July 2, Thursday)
- Congo RD x Ghana (July 3, Friday)
- Canada x Belgium (July 3, Friday)
- Australia x Iran (July 3, Friday)
- Argentina x Saudi Arabia (July 3, Friday)
- Colombia x Paraguay (July 4, Saturday)
Germany forward projects possible meetings against Norway or Japan
Another part of the switch that stands out is that of Germany. If the German team beats Scotland, they would advance to face the winner of the duel between Norway and Japan in the round of 16.
The Norwegian national team, with Erling Haaland as its main star, is among the teams that demonstrate the greatest potential to surprise in this edition of the World Cup.
Brazilian team defines future in the group in crucial match against Scotland
Before focusing on the knockout matches, the Brazilian team needs to complete its participation in the group stage.
The team’s next match will be against Scotland, on Wednesday, the 24th, at 7pm (Brasília time), at the Hard Rock Stadium, located in Miami.
A victory ensures qualification for the next phase without depending on other results and keeps Brazil very close to the leadership of Group C.
In addition to the sporting benefit of a potentially more favorable seeding, finishing in first place allows the team to remain in the United States during the knockout stages, avoiding long journeys that would be expected for the second-placed teams.
With Neymar about to return and qualification virtually assured, the Seleção reaches the final round in a privileged position to guarantee its place among the 32 teams that will continue in the 2026 World Cup.