Everything You Need To Know: FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage | OneFootball

The U.S. Men’s National Team has won Group D, the number one goal head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his group set out to accomplish when the tournament kicked off a couple of weeks ago on June 12 against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium.

Finishing atop the group means a ticket to the knockout rounds, which begins with the all-new Round of 32. This year’s expanded field of 48 teams means more nations advance to the knockout rounds than ever before, and the eventual champion will need one more win to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy.

As the USMNT enters the next phase of the tournament, here are some important things to know.

When and where could the U.S. play next?

A first-place finish in Group D sends the U.S. to Santa Clara, Calif. next and on a path that continues on the West Coast through the quarterfinals:

All roads lead to the Final, which will be held at New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19.

The USMNT will continue training at its base camp at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif. for a few more days before hitting the road for the next leg of competition.

What do we know about the USA’s next opponent?

It was confirmed that the USA’s opponent in the Round of 32 will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, which qualified for their second FIFA World Cup after defeating Italy in penalties in the playoff Final of UEFA Path A on March 31.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is the third-place team to come out of Group B at FIFA World Cup 2026, finishing behind first-place Switzerland and runner-up Canada. The Dragons opened the tournament with a strong 1-1 draw against the tournament co-host, Canada. Group winners Switzerland gave Bosnia and Herzegovina its only loss of 2026, but BIH recovered to earn its first win of FIFA World Cup 2026, a 3-1 victory over Qatar to collect a total of four points in group play.

The USA and BIH both enter the Round of 32 clash on scoring streaks. Both sides have scored at least one goal in all their tournament games so far. In the all-time history of the series between the two nations, the USA has never lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In three meetings, the U.S. has won twice – in 2013 behind a legendary performance from striker Jozy Altidore, and most recently in 2018 in Carson, Calif. Another meeting in Carson early in 2018 resulted in a scoreless draw.

The winner of the Round of 32 match between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina will advance to the Round of 16 against an opponent that will be determined on Matchday 82 in Seattle. Matchday 82 features the winner of Group G versus the third-place team from either Group A, E, H I or J.

How do teams advance to the next round of the knockout stage?

At this point, the key to advancing is simple: win. The tournament now moves from round-robin style to single-elimination. No draws, no groups, no points. The winner advances.

Single-elimination also brings penalty kicks for the first time in the tournament format. Unlike the group stage where a match could end in a draw, awarding both teams one point in the table, the knockout stage will move to penalty kicks if the match is tied at the end of 90 minutes of regulation plus a half-hour of extra time.

What’s the best way to watch and follow along?

Though U.S. Soccer House presented by Bank of America has ended its incredible run in Venice Beach, the support for the U.S. Men’s National Team continues throughout the whole country as the team looks to make history on home soil.

Ride the momentum and join your local U.S. Soccer Insiders Chapter to meet fellow fans of the Stars and Stripes and stay connected at local watch parties.

Staying at home? Follow the latest news and information on USSoccer.com, the official U.S. Soccer app, and official social media channels.