Brazil vs Argentina World Cup 2026: Can They Meet in the Knockout Stage?
Brazil are in Group E. Argentina are in Group H. They cannot meet in the group stage — but they could clash from the Round of 16 onward.
Where are they in the draw?
Brazil are seeded in Group E alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
Argentina, the defending champions, sit in Group H with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
The two giants are on opposite sides of the expanded 48-team bracket, meaning a Superclásico is not possible at the group stage.
Earliest possible meeting
The bracket structure for the 2026 tournament places Group E winners and Group H winners on different halves of the draw until later rounds. Under the published bracket, Brazil and Argentina could meet for the first time in the Quarter-Finals, assuming both top their groups and navigate the Round of 32 and Round of 16. If either side finishes second or third, the path shifts — but they still cannot cross before the Round of 16.
What it would mean
A 2026 Superclásico would be the first competitive knockout meeting between Brazil and Argentina at a World Cup since Italia '90, where Argentina won 1-0. The fixture would almost certainly headline the tournament — and likely sell out within minutes.
Note: This is a possible knockout scenario, not a confirmed fixture. We track only confirmed matches on our match pages.