World Cup last 32 set with Portugal vs Croatia and England vs DR Congo among marquee ties

The 2026 World Cup knockout bracket is taking shape as the final day of group play closes in, with several round-of-32 matchups now reported across multiple outlets.

The headline tie is Portugal against Croatia, a matchup that would bring Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric face to face in what is being framed as a veteran “last dance” style clash. Both teams have advanced from their groups and now move into the tournament's expanded knockout stage.

Other reported pairings include England against DR Congo, Argentina against Cape Verde and Colombia against Ghana. The bracket is being shaped by the final group-stage results and the best third-place qualifiers, which means the full path to the latter rounds is only now becoming clear.

The bracket comes into focus

AP reported on June 27 that the final day of group play would set the field for the round of 32, listing several expected matchups as qualification was finalized. Later coverage on June 28 reinforced the same knockout picture, with the Portugal-Croatia tie emerging as the marquee draw.

Croatia's place in the bracket followed a 2-1 win over Ghana, a match in which Modric provided the assist for the winner. Portugal, meanwhile, finished its own group-stage work with a 0-0 draw against Colombia, a result that helped determine the bracket shape.

Why Portugal vs Croatia stands out

The appeal of Portugal vs Croatia is obvious: two of the era's most recognizable players, Ronaldo and Modric, are both at the back end of their international careers and now appear set for one more major meeting on the World Cup stage.

That star power gives the tie a clear commercial and narrative hook, but the broader story is the structure of the tournament itself. The 2026 World Cup has expanded to 48 teams, creating a round of 32 and opening the door to a larger and more varied knockout field.

What happens next

The remaining group-stage results can still affect some third-place qualification scenarios, so the full bracket may continue to shift at the margins until everything is officially locked.

For now, though, the knockout path is mostly defined, with the first round already delivering several high-profile clashes and the Ronaldo-Modric pairing standing out as the main attraction.