Sweden faces the toughest possible opposition and a big meeting between Portugal and Croatia is expected.
This is how the round of 16 finals in the WC are played.
The group stage is settled and all round of 16 finals have been determined. All kick-off times are in Swedish time.
Sunday 28 June
South Africa – Canada 9 p.m
South Africa secured historic play-off progression from Group A in which they finished second. They are pitted against host nation Canada, who have so far only played matches at home in Canada. The round of 16 final against South Africa will instead be played at the Los Angeles Stadium in California and broadcast on TV4.
The winner of the round of 16 will face the winner of the Netherlands and Morocco.
Monday 29 June
Brazil – Japan 19.00
Brazil won Group C and will face Japan, who went undefeated and finished second in Sweden’s group. Japan has never before won a knockout match in a World Cup, while Brazil has taken a total of five World Cup golds. The match is played in Houston, Texas and broadcast on TV4.
The winner will meet the winner of Norway and the Ivory Coast in the round of 16.
Germany – Paraguay 22.30
Despite an unexpected loss to Ecuador in the final group stage match, Germany clinched first place in Group E and will therefore face seventh-best group three Paraguay, who knocked Turkey out of their group, in the round of 16. The match is played in Boston and broadcast on SVT.
The winner will meet either Sweden or France in the round of 16.
Tuesday 30 June
Netherlands – Morocco 03.00
Although the Netherlands won group F, they are not given a pardon in the round of 16, but face the reigning champions of the African championships, and the quarter-finalists of the last World Cup already in the round of 16. The match is played in Monterrey in Mexico and broadcast on SVT.
The winner will face either South Africa or Canada in the round of 16.
Ivory Coast – Norway 19.00
Norway, which did everything to avoid Sweden, is hardly facing any easier opposition because it is the Ivory Coast that they have to face in the round of 16. Both Norway and Ivory Coast came second in their respective groups. The round of 16 is played in Arlington, Texas, and is broadcast on TV4.
The winner will meet the winner of Brazil – Japan in the round of 16.
France – Sweden 23.00
Then it was time! Sweden had the absolute toughest opposition beforehand in the form of France in the round of 16, but worse things have happened. Thanks to Anthony Elanga screwing in 1-1 against Japan, Sweden secured the play-offs as the second best group third. France, in turn, won all three of their group stage matches and won the World Cup last time in 2018.
The match is played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and is broadcast by TV4.
The winner faces either Germany or Paraguay in the round of 16.
Wednesday July 1
Mexico – Ecuador 03.00
Thanks to the resounding win against Germany, Ecuador progressed to the round of 16, where they will face host nation Mexico, who won Group A with three wins out of three. The match is played in Mexico City and broadcast on TV4.
The winner will face either England or Congo-Kinshasa.
England – Congo-Kinshasa 18.00
For the first time in the country’s history, Congo-Kinshasa made it to the World Cup finals, after turning the decisive group stage match against Uzbekistan. They thus became the best group third and face England in the round of 16. England convincingly won the opener against Croatia but have not shone particularly since. Despite that, they won group L. The match is played in Atlanta and broadcast on SVT.
The winner will face the winner of Mexico – Ecuador.
Belgium – Senegal 22.00
Senegal finished as the worst best group third and became the only team with three points that managed to advance to the playoffs. There awaits Belgium, who cruised through two games during the group stage but still finished first. Belgium vs. Senegal is played in Seattle and broadcast on TV4.
The winner faces either the USA or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 16.
Thursday 2 July
USA – Bosnia-Herzegovina 02.00
The third host nation, the USA, however, has convinced. They won their group against Group B’s third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina. The round of 16 is played in California and broadcast on TV4.
The winner will face the winner of Belgium and Senegal.
Spain – Austria 21.00
Spain won their Group H by four points more than runners-up Cape Verde. They are therefore pitted against Austria, who secured advancement to the finals with the last touch of the ball in the group stage. The match will be played in California, broadcast by SVT and the winner will face either Sweden or France in the round of 16.
Friday 3 July
Portugal – Croatia 01.00
Big meeting directly in the round of 16 awaits, as neither Croatia nor Portugal excelled during the group stage. Croatia finished second behind England in their group, while Portugal finished behind Colombia in theirs. Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo face each other in Toronto.
The match will be broadcast on TV4 and the winner will face either Spain or Austria in the round of 16.
Switzerland – Algeria 05.00
Algeria cruised against Austria in the final group stage match and therefore made it to the playoffs. There awaits Switzerland, who won Group B. The venue is Vancouver and the winner will face Colombia or Ghana. The match is broadcast on TV4.
Australia – Egypt 20.00
Australia finished second in their Group D, and therefore face the runners-up in Group G. It happens to be Mohamed Salah’s Egypt who have progressed to the play-offs for the first time in the country’s history.
The match is broadcast on TV4 and played in Arlington, Texas. The winner will face Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16.
Saturday 4 July
Argentina – Cape Verde 00.00
The goal king Lionel Messi has a chance to extend his goal record further when facing the small island nation of Cape Verde. Cape Verde is playing its very first World Cup ever and the progress is sensational. The match will be played in Florida and the winner will face the winner of Australia – Egypt. The match is broadcast on SVT.
Colombia – Ghana 03.30
Colombia clinched the group victory over Portugal in Group F and therefore gets the third best group three Ghana in the round of 16. Ghana cruised against England and lost by the odd goal against Croatia. The match is broadcast on SVT and played in Kansas City. The winner faces either Switzerland or Algeria in the round of 16.
The round of 16 will be played between July 4–7.
