World Cup bracket: see Brazil's path to the final

Brazil's path towards a sixth championship began to take shape. With the closure of Group F, the team led by Carlo Ancelotti got to know their opponents for the second phase of the 2026 World Cup and also began to see which rivals could appear in the following stages of the knockout stage.

The first challenge will be Japan, who finished second in Group F after drawing 1-1 with Sweden. The clash is scheduled for next Monday (29), at 2pm (Brasília time), in Houston, qualifying for a place in the round of 16.

If favoritism is confirmed, Brazil will face Ivory Coast or second place in Group I. At the moment, the position belongs to Norway, led by Erling Haaland, who shares the second place in the World Cup with Vinicius Júnior, both with four goals. The definition of the group, however, still depends on the last round of the group, which also includes France.

In the quarterfinals, the Brazilian team could face England, provisional leader of Group I and one of the favorites to advance on their side of the bracket.

One of the most anticipated clashes in the competition, Brazil x Argentina, can only take place in the semi-final. Current world champions, Lionel Messi's team has already secured the lead in Group J and appears as the main candidate to reach the top four in the tournament.

Before that, the Argentines will still need to overcome the second place in Group H, currently Uruguay, and then face the winner of a clash that could bring together teams such as Australia, Iran or another classified from brackets D and G. In the quarterfinals, Colombia emerges as a possible opponent.

While Brazil and Argentina occupy the same side of the switch, the other quadrant concentrates part of the main European powers. Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and France appear as favorites to compete for the place in the decision.

Germany will face one of the best third-placed teams in the second phase and could face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. The Dutch, in turn, will face Morocco in the opening of the knockout stages.

Spain, provisional leader of Group H, has a path that could include Austria in the second phase, Portugal or Ghana in the round of 16 and the United States in the quarterfinals. If the current scenario is maintained, the Spanish could compete for a place in the final against Germany, France or the Netherlands.

With most of the knockout places already defined, the selection begins to shape the possible big clashes of the World Cup. For Brazil, the mission is to overcome Japan and keep the dream of a sixth championship alive, with the possibility of facing some of the main candidates for the title before the decision scheduled for July 19, at MetLife Stadium.

See the ranking of the most valuable squads of the World Cup

Source: CNN