FIFA World Cup brackets are starting to take shape, with England on course for Portugal and Scotland still needing a win over Brazil. Sky Sports published a live look at the projected Round of 32 and the route to the July 19 final while the group stage was still being decided.
England had opened with a win over Croatia, and that left Thomas Tuchel's side on course to top the group. From there, the bracket points them toward a last-32 meeting with Portugal, who are currently third in Group K, before the road can bend again in the later knockout rounds.
Tuchel's England route
The projected path is not fixed yet, but it is already specific enough to matter. England were on course for a potential last-16 tie with Mexico in Mexico City, then a last-eight opponent drawn from France or Brazil, before a possible semi-final against Argentina and Lionel Messi. Spain were mentioned as a possible final opponent.
The bracket schedule published by Sky Sports laid out the knockout map around that route. Round of 32 Match 73 was set for Sunday, June 28, in Los Angeles, USA, while Match 74 was scheduled for Monday, June 29, in Foxborough, USA. Match 75 followed on Tuesday, June 30, in Guadalupe, Mexico, and Match 79 came on Wednesday, July 1, in Mexico City, Mexico.
Scotland face Brazil
Scotland's position was much less secure after losing to Morocco. Steve Clarke's team were due to face Brazil at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday, and they needed a win to guarantee a place in the Round of 32.
That leaves Scotland dependent on both the result and the wider third-place picture. Their points tally in Group C would see them qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, but there were no guarantees for their current position, which means the bracket can still shift as the remaining group games finish.
July 19 still ahead
The projected knockout list continued through July 4, with Round of 32 Matches 83, 85 and 86 in Toronto, Vancouver and Miami, followed by Match 87 in Kansas City. Until the last group results land, the open question is which third-place teams will fill the remaining knockout slots — and how much of England's route survives the final round of group games.
