FIFA World Cup week schedule (June 22-28, 2026): Messi’s Argentina, Mbappe’s France in fire as final race for knockout points | Football news

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, second right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal. (AP Photo)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set for a dramatic week as the expanded 48-team tournament enters the final phase of the group stage, with the race for places in the Round of 32 meeting from Monday onwards.After 10 days of action in the United States, Canada and Mexico, only three teams have officially secured qualification for the knockout rounds. Co-hosts USA and Mexico, along with four-time champions Germany, have already booked their spots after their opening two games.At the other end, Haiti, Turkey and Tunisia became the first teams to be eliminated from contention, leaving 42 nations battling for the remaining 29 places in the next round.The second round of group matches will conclude on Wednesday, which is expected to provide more clarity in several groups with heavyweight contenders. Defending champions Argentina, former world champions France, England and Portugal are among the teams still looking to secure their places in the knockout stages.From Thursday onwards, the focus will shift to the final round of group matches, with FIFA using the traditional format of simultaneous kick-offs for teams in the same group. The schedule is designed to preserve sporting integrity and prevent teams from gaining an advantage by knowing the outcome of the other match.For example, the two matches of Group A will start at the same time, and the same format will apply to all 12 groups during the final days of the first phase.The stakes are even higher in the extended format. The top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the Round of 32, while eight of the best third-placed teams will also advance, meaning countries missing the top two positions still have a lifeline.With 29 knockout spots still up for grabs and many traditional potentials yet to confirm qualification, the coming week promises high drama, tense calculations and simultaneous battles in many places.By the end of the week, the picture for the inaugural 32-team knockout stage will finally be complete, with dreams kept alive or dashed in what promises to be an exciting finish to the group stage.