Qatar World Cup 2022 round of 16: bracket, games, teams, dates and complete schedule
We now know the identity of the 16 teams that are through to the knockout stages at World Cup 2022. Take a look at the last-16 schedule.
The line-up for the World Cup 2022 round of 16 is now complete.
The Netherlands and the United States will kick off the knockout stages at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday 3 December, following a group stage that saw two heavyweights - Germany and Belgium - suffer humiliating early exits. This is the second straight World Cup at which the Germans have failed to make it out of their group; prior to 2018, the four-time world champions hadn’t gone out in the first round since all the way back in 1938.
Morocco in knockout stages for first time since 1986
After surprisingly topping Group F, Morocco have ended a 36-year wait to take their place in the last 16, while fellow Africans Senegal have progressed beyond the round-robin phase for the first time since their tournament debut in 2002. Like Morocco and Senegal, Australia are also through to the World Cup knockouts for only the second time in their history, having performed heroically to take six points in a group that featured France, Denmark and Tunisia.
Drama a-plenty as group stage concludes
A number of teams are in the last 16 after qualifying in dramatic fashion on what, in general, was an edge-of-the-seat final round of group games. Poland finally edged out Mexico on goal difference, but for a good while on Wednesday it looked like second place in Group C would come down to which of the two had picked up fewer yellow cards; Japan produced a sensational second-half comeback against Spain to win Group E ahead of La Roja and send Germany home; and South Korea set up a tie with five-time World Cup winners Brazil thanks to a 91st-minute Hee-Chan Hwang winner against Portugal.
Mention should also go to Qatar, who served up the worst ever performance by a World Cup host nation: Felix Sánchez’s men lost all three games, and were already out of the tournament after matchday two.
World Cup 2022 round of 16: complete schedule (all times ET)
- Saturday 3 December: Netherlands vs US, Khalifa International Stadium, 10am
- Saturday 3 December: Argentina vs Australia, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, 2pm
- Sunday 4 December: France vs Poland, Al Thumama Stadium, 10am
- Sunday 4 December: England vs Senegal, Al Bayt Stadium, 2pm
- Monday 5 December: Japan vs Croatia, Al Janoub Stadium, 10am
- Monday 5 December: Brazil vs South Korea, Stadium 974, 2pm
- Tuesday 6 December: Morocco vs Spain, Education City Stadium, 10am
- Tuesday 6 December: Portugal vs Switzerland, Lusail Stadium, 2pm
World Cup 2022 knockout-stage bracket:
Video: Riots in Belgium after loss to Morocco
