HOUSTON – The FIFA World Cup knockout stage arrives in Houston on Monday as Brazil and Japan square off in a highly anticipated Round of 32 match at Houston Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
FIFA World Cup’s Round of 32 is the first knockout round of the tournament. The stage features the 32 teams that advanced from the group stage, with each team playing in a win-or-go-home matchup. If a match is tied after 90 minutes of regulation, it goes to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to determine which team advances to the Round of 16.
The winner will advance to the Round of 16 as thousands of fans from around the world are expected to pack the stadium.
Other World Cup matches scheduled for Monday include:
- Germany vs. Paraguay at 3:30 p.m. in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
- Netherlands vs. Morocco at 8 p.m.
Road closures
Drivers should expect traffic impacts near Houston Stadium before kickoff.
From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the following roads will be closed:
- Fannin Street between Old Spanish Trail and Holly Hall
- Greenbriar Drive between Old Spanish Trail and Fannin Street
Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes and allow extra travel time.
Houston World Cup by the numbers
The tournament continues to generate record crowds across the city. According to Houston World Cup officials:
- 557,979 total participants have attended FIFA World Cup-related events.
- 273,860 fans have attended matches at Houston Stadium.
- 21 goals have been scored across Houston’s first four World Cup matches.
- 246,169 riders have used METRORail during the tournament.