The knockout phase is under way at the World Cup

The group stage of the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup has officially come to an end. The field has been narrowed to the 32 best teams in the world, the time for calculations is over, and the knockout bracket is now set to ignite excitement across the footballing world. The new format—with 12 groups and eight of the best third-placed teams advancing—produced unprecedented drama in the final round. It also created a knockout bracket that has been far kinder to some contenders than to others. While a handful of favorites woke up celebrating a relatively clear path to the latter stages, others must immediately navigate a minefield of heavyweight clashes more befitting the semi-finals or even the final. The knockout stage is divided into two halves of the bracket. A closer look at each team's route to the final in New York City reveals starkly different fortunes.

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Bracket A (First Quarter): A European nightmare for France and Germany

This is unquestionably the toughest section of the draw. In the Round of 32, Germany national football team face Paraguay national football team, while France national football team take on Sweden national football team. Should both favorites progress, Germany and France would meet as early as the Round of 16 in what would effectively be a final before the final. The winner would then face either South Africa national football team, Canada national football team, Netherlands national football team, or Morocco national football team in the quarter-finals.

Bracket B (Second Quarter): A difficult road for Croatia, Spain and Portugal

This quarter is packed with European heavyweights. The Round of 32 features Portugal national football team against Croatia national football team, while Spain national football team meet Austria national football team. The winners will clash in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Ghana national football team, despite losing their final group match, landed on what appears to be a more favorable route, facing Colombia national football team before a potential meeting with the winner of Algeria national football team versus Switzerland national football team.

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Elsewhere, hosts United States men's national soccer team face Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, with the winner meeting either Belgium national football team or Senegal national football team.

Bracket C (Third Quarter): A projected Brazil vs England blockbuster

This section could produce one of the tournament's biggest spectacles. Brazil national football team begin against Japan national football team, with the winner facing either Norway national football team or Ivory Coast national football team. On the other side, England national football team meet DR Congo national football team, while Mexico national football team and Ecuador national football team contest an all-Latin American showdown. If the favorites advance, the quarter-finals would feature a mouth-watering Brazil vs England clash.

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Bracket D (Fourth Quarter): Argentina's golden path

On paper, the biggest winner of the draw is Argentina national football team. The reigning world champions open against tournament surprise package Cape Verde national football team. If they progress, they would face the winner of Australia national football team versus Egypt national football team. That means Argentina could potentially reach the quarter-finals without facing a single European or South American opponent. Only in the last eight would a sterner challenge likely await, with either Colombia or Switzerland projected as their opponents. Those two nations must first navigate ties involving Algeria and Ghana.

Round of 32 fixtures

Bracket A

Germany vs Paraguay — Monday, 23:30

France vs Sweden — Tuesday, 00:00

South Africa vs Canada — Sunday, 22:00

Netherlands vs Morocco — Tuesday, 04:00

Bracket B

Portugal vs Croatia — Friday, 02:00

Spain vs Austria — Thursday, 22:00

United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — Thursday, 03:00

Belgium vs Senegal — Wednesday, 23:00

Bracket C

Brazil vs Japan — Monday, 20:00

Ivory Coast vs Norway — Tuesday, 20:00

Mexico vs Ecuador — Wednesday, 04:00

England vs DR Congo — Wednesday, 19:00

Bracket D

Argentina vs Cape Verde — Saturday, 01:00

Australia vs Egypt — Friday, 21:00

Switzerland vs Algeria — Friday, 06:00

Colombia vs Ghana — Saturday, 04:30