---
title: "WC 2026: Round of 16 bracket taking shape, 10 participants already known"
description: "WC 2026 enters the decisive phase: 10 Round of 16 participants already known! 🏆 For the first time in history, 48 teams are playing in the tournament. Find out where to watch matches in Ukraine and who else can advance to the next round. ⚽🇺🇦"
date: 2026-07-02T07:44:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/wc-2026-round-of-16-bracket-taking-shape-10-participants-already-known
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# WC 2026: Round of 16 bracket taking shape, 10 participants already known

![France national team celebrates victory at WC-2026, players in blue jerseys hugging on the field, including Tchouameni, Olise and Barola](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/02/chm-2026-formiruetsya-setka-1-8-finala-uzhe-izvestny-10-uchastnikov/chm-2026-formiruetsya-setka-1-8-finala-uzhe-izvestny-10-uchastnikov-1.webp)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is entering its decisive phase. The matches of the opening knockout round are drawing to a close, and the tournament picture is beginning to clarify. Already, 10 of the 16 teams that will continue the fight for the main trophy in the Round of 16 are known.

### Historical scale of the tournament

The current world forum is taking place in a unique format: for the first time in history, 48 national teams are participating in the World Cup. This has radically changed the structure of the competition and increased the number of participants at all stages. After the conclusion of the group stage, the 32 best teams advanced to the Round of 32.

The knockout bracket is actively taking shape. At the moment, five pairs for the upcoming Round of 16 are fully known. The holders of the remaining spots will be determined in the coming days. Later this week, the defending world champions and other tournament favorites will play their matches, whose results will be decisive for finalizing the schedule for the next stage.

### Where to watch matches in Ukraine

For fans in Ukraine, live broadcasts of the matches are available on the Megogo media service. Access to the matches is open via MEGOPACK and "Sport" subscriptions, as well as in the MEGOPACK N+S and MEGOPACK Y packages.

Previously, artificial intelligence had already compiled a forecast and named the main favorites for the "gold" of the WC 2026 before the start of the knockout stage, however, the final list of contenders will only be formed after the completion of the current series of games.