Round of 32 Opens June 28, 2026: 4 Matches, LA to Monterrey
The World Cup 2026 knockouts open with 4 Round of 32 matches across June 28–29: one at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, then Houston, Boston and Monterrey on June 29. Kickoff times, venues, and the one eSIM for North America.
Published June 20, 2026·5 min read
Summary
The World Cup 2026 knockouts open with four Round of 32 matches across June 28–29, 2026: a single match at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, then Houston, Boston and Monterrey on June 29. Here are the exact kickoff times and venues, plus the one eSIM that keeps you online across all of North America on a single plan.
The June 28–29 Round of 32 schedule
The group stage ends June 27, and the Round of 32 runs June 28 – July 3. Day one is deliberately light — a single prime-time match — before three games on June 29. Teams are set by final group standings; times below are Eastern with local in parentheses.
| Date & kickoff | Host city | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Jun 28 · 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi) |
| Mon Jun 29 · 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CDT) | Houston | Houston Stadium (NRG) |
| Mon Jun 29 · 4:30 p.m. ET | Boston (Foxborough) | Boston Stadium (Gillette) |
| Mon Jun 29 · 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) | Monterrey | Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA) |
Which bracket slots play where
The Round of 32 pairs group winners and runners-up with the eight best third-placed teams. Exact matchups lock in once the group stage finishes on June 27 — our Round of 32 bracket guide tracks every slot, and knockout travel planning covers following your team city to city. Getting to these four venues is covered in our LA Stadium, Houston, Boston and Monterrey getting-there guides. Next up: the June 30 Round of 32 matches.
eSIM vs roaming vs pocket Wi-Fi for World Cup travel
| Option | Cost | Setup time | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Low | ~5 min (pre-install on Wi-Fi) | Excellent (local carrier) |
| Carrier roaming | High | Instant (already enabled) | Medium (partner-dependent) |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | Medium | Airport pickup / rental | Good (extra device to charge) |
The opening knockout days span Los Angeles, Houston, Boston and Monterrey — two countries and three time zones in 48 hours. That means live scores, mobile tickets and rideshare bookings all running on data. A North America eSIM keeps you online across the US, Canada and Mexico on one plan, so hopping from Houston to Monterrey needs no SIM swap. From US$5 with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card.
FAQ
QWhen does the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 start?
AThe Round of 32 starts June 28, 2026 — the day after the group stage ends. It opens with a single match at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi) kicking off at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT).
QHow many Round of 32 matches are played on June 28 and 29, 2026?
AFour matches. One at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, then three on June 29 at Houston Stadium (NRG), Boston Stadium (Gillette) and Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA).
QWhat are the June 29, 2026 Round of 32 kickoff times?
AHouston at 1 p.m. ET, Boston at 4:30 p.m. ET, and Monterrey at 8 p.m. ET. That is three matches spread across the day in two countries.
QCan one eSIM cover travel between all these host cities?
AYes — a North America eSIM covers the USA, Canada and Mexico on local networks. A single plan works in Los Angeles, Houston, Boston and Monterrey without swapping SIMs.
Bottom line
The Round of 32 opens June 28 at Los Angeles Stadium, then delivers three more on June 29 in Houston, Boston and Monterrey. Bookmark the rest of the round — June 30, July 1, July 2 and July 3 — and grab a World Cup 2026 eSIM that covers every host city on one plan.