Doha: Four highly anticipated round of 32 matches of the FIFA 2026 World Cup are scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1, as teams battle to secure their spots in the round of 16. Highlighting the day are matchups between France and Sweden, England and DR Congo, Mexico and Ecuador, and Belgium and Senegal.
According to Qatar News Agency, the France v Sweden match sees the French team in pursuit of their third World Cup title following a flawless group stage performance. France secured three straight victories to top their group. On the other hand, Sweden progressed to the round of 32 by finishing third in Group F, accumulating four points.
Historically, France has had the upper hand against Sweden, winning 12 of their encounters compared to Sweden's six victories, with five matches ending in draws.
The England v DR Congo clash will occur at Atlanta Stadium in the United States. England emerged as the top team in Group L with seven points, achieving two wins and one draw. They have scored six goals and conceded two, maintaining an unbeaten streak of 14 matches under the guidance of coach Thomas Tuchel.
DR Congo's journey to the round of 32 was marked by a third-place finish in Group K, securing four points from a win and a draw, despite an initial loss to Colombia.
Mexico, one of the tournament's host nations, will challenge Ecuador in the round of 32 after a remarkable group stage where they did not concede a single goal. Their defensive prowess has made them a formidable team in this year's competition.
Ecuador had a challenging path to the knockout stages, securing qualification as one of the best third-placed teams with four points from a win and a draw. In their 28 previous encounters, Mexico has dominated Ecuador with 17 wins, while Ecuador has triumphed four times, and seven matches have ended in a draw.
Lastly, Belgium is set to face Senegal at Seattle Stadium. Belgium topped Group G with seven points, achieved through two draws and a win, while Senegal finished third in Group I with three points.