The round of 32 at the World Cup is set, with the knockout stage getting under way on Sunday as Canada play South Africa in Southern California.

The US will face Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California, while third co-hosts Mexico return to its capital city to take on Ecuador on Tuesday.

Tournament favourite France go back to the New York area to play Sweden on Tuesday, with the winner of that game going up against Germany or Paraguay in the round of 16.

Of the other African teams, Senegal play Belgium, Morocco take on the Netherlands, Ivory Coast entertain Norway, the Democratic Republic of the Congo are up against England, Egypt play Australia, Cape Verde await Argentina, Algeria get ready for Switzerland, and Ghana play Colombia.

In the other matches, Portugal battle Croatia, Austria challenge Spain and five-time champions Brazil entertain Japan.

Meanwhile, there's soul searching for teams that failed to make the last 32, among them South Korea.

After three days of anxious waiting to see if they would squeeze into the knockout rounds as one of the eight third-placed finishers, results went against South Korea to send them home.

Hong Myung-bo's side had the last 32 within grasp only to suffer a shock 1-0 loss to lower-ranked South Africa on Wednesday. Hong caused a surprise when he dropped the attacking talisman Son Heung-min to the bench in a gamble that backfired.

The criticism back home has been fierce, with Hong firmly in the firing line.

Yonhap News Agency called South Korea's premature exit "dismal".

"The national team suffered the humiliation of a 2026 World Cup group-stage exit after three days of agonising hope," Yonhap said.

A headline in Newsis said: "Fortune deserts Hong Myung-bo's side."

Former Tottenham attacker Son, who now plays for Los Angeles FC, has hinted in the past at international retirement.

The daily Sports Chosun expects that to be it now for the player who has carried South Korea so often and scored 56 goals for his country.

"Son Heung-min's final World Cup ends in heartbreak," a headline said.

He turns 34 next month.

Iran are also sent packing.

A chaotic finale to the tournament's expanded group phase saw Austria and Algeria fill the final two berths in the last 32 after battling to an extraordinary 3-3 draw in Group J, a result that dashed Iran's hopes of advancing from their group. (Reporting by AP, AFP)



Edited by Edmond Fong