We now know the 9 teams playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Texas this week, with two more games left in Dallas in July. Monday, the knockout rounds continue with Brazil vs. Japan at noon CST in Houston. Brazil, a 5-time tournament champion, kicks off its knockout-round run on the sa me day it won its first FIFA World Cup over Sweden back in 1958. Then, Brazil was led by a 17-year-old Pele, who would go on to win two more World Cups and become soccer royalty. Brazil became the first team to win a World Cup outside its continent,and Pele scored 5 times over the course of the final and semifinal. Brazil has reached the knockout rounds in 15 straight World Cups. Tuesday, it’s Côte d’Ivoire and Norway, also at noon at Dallas Stadium. Norway is a slight favorite. Norway’s star striker Erling Haaland is chasing Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot Race; he’s tied with Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior at 4 goals. Messi has 6. Haaland only played in 2 group stage games, however. Haaland is one of the top goal scorers in the world over the past few seasons. The 6-foot-5 Norwegian plays for Manchester City in the Premier League, and he’s already won just about every trophy available to him. Norway has never reached the World Cup quarterfinals. Côte d’Ivoire is led by teenager Yan Diomande, who played some high school soccer in Florida and plays professionally in Germany. Friday is the last Round of 32 match at Dallas Stadium, Australia against Egypt at 1 p.m. CST. Egypt is hopeful that English Premier League star Mohamed Salah is healthy enough to play after leaving their group-stage game against Iran in the second half on Friday. Salah, Egypt’s most accomplished active player, went down with a knee injury. His status will be monitored throughout the week. Australia is coming off a second-place finish in Group D, defeating Turkiye, losing to the USMNT, and then drawing with Paraguay. Saturday is the first Round of 16 match, with Canada taking on the winner of the Netherlands-Morocco in Houston at noon. Canada defeated South Africa Sunday in the first game for a host nation outside its host country (Canada is hosting jointly with the United States and Mexico, but lost its group and was forced to play at Los Angeles Stadium). It will also be the last 2026 match in Houston. Dallas still has a Round of 16 match July 6 and a semifinal July 14. ...read more read less