The knockout stage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the final tournament, following the group stage. It began on 23 June with the round of 16 matches, and ended on 8 July with the final held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, in which West Germany beat the defending champions Argentina 1–0 to claim their third World Cup.
Sixteen teams advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament: The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the best four third-placed teams. In the round of 16, the four third-placed teams played against four of the group winners from group A-D, with the remaining two group winners from group E and F taking on two of the group runners-up; the remaining four runners-up were paired off against each other. The winners of the eight round of 16 matches were then paired together in the quarter-finals, the winners of which played against each other in the semi-finals.
The ties in each round were played over a single match; in the event that scores were level after 90 minutes, the teams would play an additional 30 minutes of extra time, divided into two 15-minute halves, to determine the winner. If the scores remained level after extra time, the teams would contest a penalty shoot-out.
A match for third place was also held on the day before the final, between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.
All times listed are local (UTC+2)
Qualified teams The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
Group Winners Runners-up Third-placed teams(Best four qualify) A B C D E F
Based on group results, the matches would be the following in Round of 16: Round of 16 Teams per qualified group positions Teams identifiedMatch 1: C1 – A3/B3/F3 Brazil – ArgentinaMatch 2: E1 – D2 Spain – YugoslaviaMatch 3: B2 – F2 Romania – IrelandMatch 4: A1 – C3/D3/E3 Italy – UruguayMatch 5: A2 – C2 Czechoslovakia – Costa RicaMatch 6: D1 – B3/E3/F3 West Germany – NetherlandsMatch 7: B1 – A3/C3/D3 Cameroon – ColombiaMatch 8: F1 – E2 England – Belgium
The pairings for matches 1, 4, 6 and 7 depend on who the best third places are that qualify for the round of 16. The following table published in Section 28 of the tournament regulations, shows the 15 different options to define the opponents for the winners of groups A, B, C and D.
Third teams qualify from groups: Italy (A1) plays vs.: Cameroon (B1) plays vs.: Brazil (C1) plays vs.: West Germany (D1) plays vs.: A B C D C3 D3 A3 B3 A B C E C3 A3 B3 E3 A B C F C3 A3 B3 F3 A B D E D3 A3 B3 E3 A B D F D3 A3 B3 F3 A B E F E3 A3 B3 F3 A C D E C3 D3 A3 E3 A C D F C3 D3 A3 F3 A C E F C3 A3 F3 E3 A D E F D3 A3 F3 E3 B C D E C3 D3 B3 E3 B C D F C3 D3 B3 F3 B C E F E3 C3 B3 F3 B D E F E3 D3 B3 F3 C D E F C3 D3 F3 E3
Bracket
Round of 16
Cameroon vs Colombia
GK 16Thomas N'KonoSW 17Victor N'Dip DF 14Stephen Tataw (c)DF 3 Jules Onana DF 2 André Kana-Biyik DF 5 Bertin EbwelléMF 8 Emile M'Bouh MF 21Emmanuel MaboangMF 10Louis-Paul Mfédé FW 7 François Omam-Biyik FW 20Cyril Makanaky Substitutes:GK 22Jacques Songo'oDF 4 Benjamin Massing DF 6 Emmanuel KundéFW 9 Roger Milla FW 18Bonaventure Djonkep Manager: Valery Nepomnyashchy GK 1 René HiguitaDF 4 Luis Fernando HerreraDF 15Luis Carlos Perea DF 2 Andrés EscobarDF 3 Gildardo GómezMF 8 Gabriel Gómez MF 14Leonel ÁlvarezMF 20Luis Fajardo MF 10Carlos Valderrama (c)FW 19Freddy RincónFW 7 Carlos Estrada Substitutes:GK 12Eduardo Niño FW 9 Miguel Guerrero MF 11Bernardo Redín FW 16Arnoldo Iguarán DF 21Alexis Mendoza Manager:Francisco Maturana Assistant referees: Jamal Al Sharif (Syria) Berny Ulloa Morera (Costa Rica)
Czechoslovakia vs Costa Rica
GK 1 Jan StejskalDF 5 Ján Kocian DF 3 Miroslav KadlecDF 9 Luboš KubíkDF 6 František Straka MF 4 Ivan Hašek (c) MF 11Ľubomír MoravčíkMF 8 Jozef ChovanecMF 7 Michal BílekFW 10Tomáš SkuhravýFW 17Ivo KnoflíčekSubstitutions:GK 21Luděk MikloškoMF 14Vladimír WeissMF 18Milan LuhovýFW 19Stanislav GrigaMF 20Václav NěmečekManager:Jozef Vengloš GK 21Hermidio BarrantesDF 3 Róger Flores (c)DF 4 Rónald González Brenes DF 20Mauricio MonteroDF 5 Marvin Obando DF 6 José Carlos ChavesMF 8 Germán Chavarría MF 19Héctor Marchena MF 14Juan CayassoFW 10Óscar RamírezFW 11Claudio Jara Substitutions:GK 22Miguel SeguraFW 7 Hernán Medford FW 9 Alexandre Guimarães MF 17Roy MyersDF 18Geovanny JaraManager: Bora Milutinović Assistant referees: Armando Pérez Hoyos (Colombia) Pietro d'Elia (Italy)
Brazil vs Argentina
Brazil dominated for most of the match, but Diego Maradona went on a trademark run from the halfway line to the edge of the penalty area late in the match, and found Claudio Caniggia, who rounded the onrushing Cláudio Taffarel to give Argentina a lead that they would not relinquish.
As of 2026, this is the last time Argentina played Brazil in a World Cup tournament.
GK 1 Cláudio TaffarelSW 21Mauro Galvão CB 19Ricardo Rocha CB 3 Ricardo Gomes (c) RM 2 JorginhoCM 4 DungaCM 5 Alemão LM 6 BrancoAM 8 ValdoFW 15MüllerFW 9 CarecaSubstitutes:GK 22Zé CarlosAM 10Paulo Silas CB 13Carlos MozerFW 17Renato Gaúcho RM 18MazinhoManager:Sebastião Lazaroni GK 12Sergio Goycochea SW 20Juan SimónDF 15Pedro Monzón DF 19Oscar RuggeriMF 4 José BasualdoMF 21Pedro Troglio MF 14Ricardo Giusti MF 16Julio OlarticoecheaMF 7 Jorge BurruchagaFW 8 Claudio Caniggia FW 10Diego Maradona (c)Substitutes:GK 22 Fabián CancelarichMF 2 Sergio BatistaMF 6 Gabriel Calderón FW 9 Gustavo DezottiDF 13Néstor LorenzoManager:Carlos Bilardo Assistant referees: Alexey Spirin (Soviet Union) Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)
West Germany vs Netherlands
GK 1 Bodo IllgnerSW 5 Klaus AugenthalerRB 2Stefan ReuterCB 4 Jürgen KohlerCB 14 Thomas BertholdLB 3 Andreas BrehmeMF 7 Pierre LittbarskiMF 10Lothar Matthäus (c) MF 6 Guido BuchwaldFW 9 Rudi Völler FW 18Jürgen Klinsmann Substitutes:GK 12Raimond AumannFW 13Karl-Heinz Riedle DF 16Paul SteinerMF 17Andreas MöllerMF 20Olaf ThonManager:Franz Beckenbauer GK 1 Hans van BreukelenRB 2 Berry van Aerle CB 4 Ronald KoemanCB 3 Frank Rijkaard LB 5 Adri van TiggelenMF 14John van 't Schip MF 6 Jan Wouters MF 20Aron WinterMF 11Richard Witschge FW 9 Marco van Basten FW 10Ruud Gullit (c)Substitutes:GK 16Joop Hiele FW 12Wim Kieft DF 13Graeme Rutjes FW 17Hans Gillhaus DF 21Danny Blind Manager:Leo Beenhakker Assistant referees: Elías Jácome (Ecuador) Vincent Mauro (United States)
Republic of Ireland vs Romania
GK 1 Packie BonnerCB 4 Mick McCarthy (c)CB 7 Paul McGrath CB 5 Kevin MoranRWB 2 Chris MorrisLWB 3 Steve Staunton CM 8 Ray HoughtonCM 13Andy TownsendAM 11Kevin SheedyCF 9 John Aldridge CF 17Niall Quinn Substitutes:GK 22Gerry PeytonDF 6Ronnie WhelanFW 10Tony Cascarino DF 12David O'Leary MF 16John SheridanManager: Jack Charlton GK 1 Silviu Lung (c)SW 6 Gheorghe PopescuDF 4 Ioan AndoneDF 21Ioan LupescuMF 2 Mircea RednicMF 8 Ioan Sabău MF 10Gheorghe Hagi MF 5 Iosif Rotariu MF 3 Michael KleinFW 18Gavril BalintFW 14Florin Răducioiu Substitutes:GK 12Bogdan SteleaFW 9Rodion CămătaruMF 11Dănuț Lupu MF 16Daniel Timofte DF 19Emil SăndoiManager:Emerich Jenei Assistant referees: Carlos Maciel (Paraguay) Jassim Mandi (Bahrain)
Italy vs Uruguay
GK 1 Walter ZengaSW 2 Franco BaresiDF 3 Giuseppe Bergomi (c)DF 6 Riccardo FerriMF 4 Luigi De AgostiniMF 10Nicola Berti MF 11Fernando De Napoli MF 13Giuseppe GianniniMF 7 Paolo MaldiniFW 15Roberto Baggio FW 19Salvatore Schillaci Substitutes:GK 12Stefano Tacconi DF 8 Pietro Vierchowod MF 9 Carlo Ancelotti MF 20Aldo Serena FW 21Gianluca Vialli Manager:Azeglio Vicini GK 1 Fernando Álvez DF 2 Nelson Gutiérrez DF 3 Hugo de LeónDF 6 Alfonso DomínguezDF 14José Pintos Saldanha MF 20Ruben PereiraMF 9 Enzo Francescoli (c)MF 8 Santiago Ostolaza MF 5 José Perdomo FW 19Daniel FonsecaFW 18Carlos Aguilera Substitutes:GK 22Javier ZeoliMF 7 Antonio Alzamendi FW 11Rubén Sosa DF 13Daniel RevelezMF 16Pablo BengoecheaManager:Óscar Tabárez Assistant referees: Kurt Röthlisberger (Switzerland) Zoran Petrović (Yugoslavia)
Spain vs Yugoslavia
GK 1 Andoni ZubizarretaSW 4 Genar Andrinúa RB 2 Chendo CB 14Alberto GórrizLB 5 Manuel SanchísRM 6 Rafael Martín VázquezCM 21MíchelCM 15Roberto LM 11Francisco VillarroyaRF 9 Emilio Butragueño (c) LF 19Julio SalinasSubstitutions:GK 13Juan Carlos AblanedoDF 3 Manuel Jiménez FW 7 Miguel PardezaDF 12Rafael AlkortaMF 18Rafael Paz Manager:Luis Suárez GK 1 Tomislav IvkovićSW 5 Faruk HadžibegićDF 16Refik ŠabanadžovićDF 3 Predrag SpasićMF 10Dragan StojkovićMF 13Srečko Katanec MF 6 Davor JozićMF 8 Safet SušićMF 7 Dragoljub BrnovićFW 9 Darko Pančev FW 11Zlatko Vujović (c) Substitutions:GK 12Fahrudin OmerovićDF 4 Zoran Vulić MF 15Robert ProsinečkiMF 17Robert JarniMF 19Dejan Savićević Manager:Ivica Osim Assistant referees: Alan Snoddy (Northern Ireland) Michał Listkiewicz (Poland)
England vs Belgium
GK 1 Peter ShiltonSW 14Mark WrightRB 12Paul ParkerCB 5 Des WalkerCB 6 Terry Butcher (c)LB 3 Stuart PearceRM 8 Chris WaddleCM 16Steve McMahon CM 19Paul Gascoigne LM 11John Barnes FW 10Gary LinekerSubstitutions:GK 13Chris Woods FW 9 Peter BeardsleyMF 17David Platt CM 20Trevor StevenFW 21Steve Bull Manager:Bobby Robson GK 1 Michel Preud'hommeRB 2 Eric GeretsSW 7 Stéphane DemolCB 13Georges GrünLB 16Michel De WolfRM 4 Lei ClijstersCM 8 Franky Van der ElstCM 10Enzo ScifoLM 5 Bruno Versavel FW 9 Marc Degryse FW 11Jan Ceulemans (c)Substitutes:GK 20Filip De WildeDF 3 Philippe AlbertFW 14Nico Claesen FW 19Marc Van Der Linden MF 22Patrick Vervoort Manager:Guy Thys Assistant referees: Helmut Kohl (Austria) Shizuo Takada (Japan)
Quarter-finals
Argentina vs Yugoslavia
GK 12Sergio GoycocheaDF 19Oscar RuggeriSW 20Juan Simón DF 18José Serrizuela MF 4 José BasualdoMF 14Ricardo GiustiMF 16Julio Olarticoechea MF 7 Jorge Burruchaga MF 6 Gabriel Calderón FW 8 Claudio Caniggia FW 10Diego Maradona (c)Substitutions:GK 22 Fabián CancelarichMF 2 Sergio BatistaFW 9 Gustavo Dezotti DF 13Néstor LorenzoMF 21Pedro Troglio Manager:Carlos Bilardo GK 1 Tomislav IvkovićSW 5 Faruk HadžibegićDF 4 Zoran Vulić DF 16Refik Šabanadžović DF 3 Predrag SpasićMF 15Robert ProsinečkiMF 10Dragan StojkovićMF 8 Safet Sušić MF 6 Davor JozićMF 7 Dragoljub BrnovićFW 11Zlatko Vujović (c)Substitutions:GK 12Fahrudin OmerovićFW 9 Darko PančevMF 17Robert JarniDF 18Mirsad BaljićMF 19Dejan Savićević Manager:Ivica Osim Assistant referees: Neji Jouini (Tunisia) Mohamed Hansal (Algeria)
Republic of Ireland vs Italy
GK 1 Packie BonnerRB 2 Chris MorrisCB 4 Mick McCarthy (c)CB 5 Kevin Moran LB 3 Steve StauntonRM 8 Ray HoughtonCM 7 Paul McGrathCM 13Andy TownsendLM 11Kevin SheedyCF 9 John Aldridge CF 17Niall Quinn Substitutions:GK 22Gerry PeytonDF 6Ronnie WhelanFW 10Tony Cascarino DF 12David O'LearyMF 16John Sheridan Manager: Jack Charlton GK 1 Walter ZengaSW 2 Franco BaresiDF 3 Giuseppe Bergomi (c)DF 6 Riccardo FerriMF 17Roberto DonadoniMF 11Fernando De Napoli MF 13Giuseppe Giannini MF 4 Luigi De Agostini MF 7 Paolo MaldiniFW 15Roberto Baggio FW 19Salvatore Schillaci Substitutes:GK 12Stefano Tacconi DF 8 Pietro VierchowodMF 9 Carlo Ancelotti MF 20Aldo Serena FW 21Gianluca Vialli Manager:Azeglio Vicini Assistant referees: Armando Pérez Hoyos (Colombia) Berny Ulloa Morera (Costa Rica)
Czechoslovakia vs West Germany
GK 1 Jan StejskalDF 5 Ján KocianDF 3 Miroslav KadlecDF 9 Luboš Kubík DF 6 František Straka MF 4 Ivan Hašek (c)MF 11Ľubomír Moravčík MF 8 Jozef ChovanecMF 7 Michal Bílek FW 10Tomáš SkuhravýFW 17Ivo Knoflíček Substitutions:GK 21Luděk MikloškoMF 14Vladimír WeissMF 18Milan LuhovýFW 19Stanislav Griga MF 20Václav Němeček Manager:Jozef Vengloš GK 1 Bodo IllgnerSW 5 Klaus AugenthalerDF 3 Andreas BrehmeDF 6 Guido BuchwaldDF 4 Jürgen KohlerDF 14Thomas BertholdMF 7 Pierre LittbarskiMF 10Lothar Matthäus (c)MF 15Uwe Bein FW 13Karl-Heinz RiedleFW 18Jürgen Klinsmann Substitutions:GK 12Raimond AumannDF 2 Stefan ReuterFW 11Frank MillMF 17Andreas Möller MF 20Olaf ThonManager:Franz Beckenbauer Assistant referees: Peter Mikkelsen (Denmark) Michał Listkiewicz (Poland)
Cameroon vs England