FIFA immediately scheduled the 2026 World Cup: Messi and Ronaldo face off in the quarterfinals

After the 2026 World Cup draw, FIFA announced the official match schedule and division of the knockout round, in which the match between two famous players Messi (Argentina) and Ronaldo (Portugal) is the most anticipated.

Ronaldo vs Messi at World Cup 2026, a possible scenario

Coincidentally, this wait will come in the quarter-finals when Argentina and Portugal could be in the same bracket. But for Messi and Ronaldo to officially face each other, the two teams need to meet a number of important conditions.

Messi wants to go to the 2026 World Cup with 100% form to help the Argentina team defend the championship, so he has not yet confirmed his participation.

Photo: Reuters

The simplest scenario in theory would require both teams to top Group J (Argentina) and Group K (Portugal). If that happens, they would be drawn together in the knockout stages, setting up a potential quarter-final.

Ronaldo and Portugal are in Group K against Colombia, Uzbekistan and an intercontinental play-off opponent, possibly Jamaica, Congo or New Caledonia. Meanwhile, Messi and reigning world champions Argentina are in Group J against Austria, Algeria and Jordan. In theory, both teams have a great chance of topping the group.

If Argentina and Portugal advance as group winners, they will need to qualify for the round of 32 and round of 16 to meet on July 11, 2026 (quarterfinals). This potential clash would take place in Kansas City and decide a semi-final spot.

The event will allow fans around the world to witness Ronaldo and Messi compete head-to-head once again for a place in the semi-finals, nurturing hopes of lifting the 2026 World Cup trophy.

Group stages of the 2026 World Cup

Photo: FIFA.com

For Argentina, if they top the group, in the round of 32 they could meet Uruguay, in the round of 16 they could meet Paraguay or Iran, in the quarter-finals they could meet Portugal, in the semi-finals they could meet Brazil or England and in the final they could meet Spain or meet France again like in the 2022 World Cup final.

According to Football Rankings , the division of the brackets based on the four highest-ranked teams on the FIFA rankings could also lead to the possibility that the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals will be extremely hot with brackets that will have top-notch matches, including one bracket that will have potential matches between France and the Netherlands, and Spain and Belgium; the other bracket is Brazil vs. England and Argentina vs. Portugal.

Specific groups of the 2026 World Cup:

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Ireland

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Wales/Northern Ireland/Italy/Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Poland/Ukraine/Sweden/Albania

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq or Bolivia/Suriname

Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Congo or Jamaica/New Caledonia

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Match schedule of the groups at the 2026 World Cup

2026 World Cup schedule

Photo: B/R Football screenshot

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/fifa-da-lap-tuc-xep-lich-thi-dau-world-cup-2026-messi-va-ronaldo-doi-dau-o-tu-ket-185251206082353094.htm