FIFA World Cup schedule of the week (June 22-28, 2026): Messi’s Argentina, Mbappe’s France in focus as final dash for knockout spots begins | Football News

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

The FIFA World Cup 2026 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 gathering pace from Monday onwards.After 10 days of action across 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 places after their opening two matches.At the other end, Haiti, Turkiye and Tunisia have become the first teams to be eliminated from contention, leaving 42 nations battling for the remaining 29 spots in the next round.The second round of group fixtures will conclude by Wednesday, which is expected to provide greater clarity in several groups featuring heavyweight contenders. Defending champions Argentina, former world champions France, England and Portugal are among the teams still seeking to secure their places in the knockout stage.From Thursday onwards, attention will shift to the final round of group matches, with FIFA adopting the traditional format of simultaneous kick-offs for teams within the same group. The scheduling is designed to preserve sporting integrity and prevent teams from gaining an advantage by knowing the result of the other match.For example, both Group A matches will kick off at the same time, and the same format will apply across all 12 groups during the concluding days of the first phase.The stakes are even higher in the expanded format. The top two teams from each group will automatically progress to the Round of 32, while eight of the best third-placed teams will also advance, meaning countries that miss out on the top two positions will still have a lifeline.With 29 knockout spots still up for grabs and several traditional powerhouses yet to confirm qualification, the coming week promises high drama, tense calculations and simultaneous battles across multiple venues.By the end of the week, the picture for the inaugural 32-team knockout stage will finally be complete, with dreams kept alive or shattered in what promises to be a thrilling finish to the group phase.