Football World Cup: Mouthwatering ties as round of 16 draw confirmed in Qatar

With the end of an upset-laden group stage, the round of 16 draw for the Football World Cup has been confirmed.

Brazil's surprise defeat to Cameroon on Saturday (NZ time) means no team advances to the second round with a perfect record, although the Netherlands, England, USA, Morocco and Croatia are all unbeaten.

Two of those unbeaten sides, Netherlands and USA, will meet in the opening match of the second round, squaring off at the Khalifa International Stadium at 4:00am Sunday (NZ time).

Australia celebrate advancing to the Football World Cup round of 16.
Australia celebrate advancing to the Football World Cup round of 16. Photo credit: Image - Getty Images

After stunning Tunisia and Denmark to reach the next round, Australia face the unenviable task of trying to stop Lionel Messi and Argentina, to be played at 8:00am on Sunday (NZ time).

The winner of each of those matches will meet in the first of the tournament quarter-finals, played next Saturday, December 10.

On Monday, defending champions France will continue their quest to become the first team in 60 years to win back-to-back tournaments, when they face Poland at 4:00am.

As the winners of Group B, England meet Group A runners-up and African champions Senegal in the fourth second-round match at 8:00am. 

Should results go with the higher-seeded teams, England and France will face off in a blockbuster quarter-final, to be played on December 11.

On Tuesday, tournament darlings Japan and 2018 runners-up Croatia face off, followed by favourites Brazil and surprise package South Korea, at 4:00am and 8:00am respectively.

To round out the round of 16, European giants Spain and Portugal also find themselves on a quarter-final collision course, with their respective matches on Wednesday.

Spain face Morocco, who ended Belgium's tournament with a shock 2-0 victory in the group stage, while Portugal and Switzerland meet in the final match of the second round.

Should Spain and Portugal emerge victorious, they would then face off against one another on December 11 for a spot in the semi-finals.

Football World Cup round of 16:

Netherlands v USA - 4:00am Sunday December 4

Argentina v Australia - 8:00am Sunday December 4

France v Poland - 4:00am Monday December 5

England v Senegal - 8:00am Monday December 5

Japan v Croatia - 4:00am Tuesday December 6

Brazil v South Korea - 8:00am Tuesday December 6

Morocco v Spain - 4:00am Wednesday December 7

Portugal v Switzerland - 8:00am December 7