ISLAMABAD: The path to World Cup glory is becoming clearer as the group stage approaches its climax. Thirteen countries have now guaranteed their progression to the newly configured Round of 32, while seven others have seen their campaigns come to an untimely end.
Under the tournament’s revolutionary expansion to 48 teams, group winners and runners-up from all 12 pools will advance, joined by the eight most successful third-place sides. This revamped knockout phase, scheduled from June 28 to July 3, promises an unprecedented level of competition on the road to the championship decider on July 19.
13 spaces filled for the Round of 32! 👏#FIFAWorldCup #Qualified @mcdonalds pic.twitter.com/urLOWNuqTf
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 25, 2026
Who has advanced to the knockout stage?
Group A
- Mexico: The co-hosts became the tournament’s first qualifiers, securing top spot with an unblemished record following a narrow 1-0 triumph over South Korea.
- South Africa: Bafana Bafana etched their names in history by reaching the knockout rounds for the very first time, stunning South Korea with a 1-0 victory.
Group B
- Switzerland: The Swiss side remained undefeated throughout group play, amassing seven points to claim first place after defeating Canada 2-1.
- Canada: Despite falling to Switzerland, the co-hosts secured the second qualification spot from the group.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Dragons earned their passage as one of the elite third-place finishers following an emphatic 3-1 victory over Qatar.
Group C
- Brazil: The five-time world champions cruised through as group winners, powered by Vinicius Junior’s double strike in a 3-0 demolition of Scotland.
- Morocco: The African representatives claimed second place in the group after dispatching Haiti 4-2.
Group D
- United States: The co-hosts secured their knockout berth with a convincing 2-0 victory against Australia.
Group E
- Germany: The Germans ended their recent World Cup group-stage struggles, overcoming Ivory Coast 2-1 to book their place.
Group I
- France: The 2018 champions advanced in style, with Kylian Mbappe netting twice in a 3-0 success over Iraq.
- Norway: Returning to the world stage after a 28-year absence, the Norwegians clinched qualification following a 3-2 victory against Senegal.
Group J
- Argentina: The defending champions secured top spot as Lionel Messi’s double against Austria propelled him to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals.
Group K
- Colombia: The South Americans eased into the next round with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo.
🏆❌ Full list of nations eliminated from the World Cup
🇨🇿 Czechia
🇭🇹 Haiti
🇯🇴 Jordan
🇵🇦 Panama
🇶🇦 Qatar
🇹🇳 Tunisia
🇹🇷 Türkiye pic.twitter.com/GA55kllWQ6— FotMob (@FotMob) June 25, 2026
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: How Third-Place Teams Can Still Reach the Round of 32?
Which teams have been eliminated?
Seven nations have seen their World Cup dreams dashed and will depart the tournament:
- Haiti(Group C) – Eliminated after losses to Brazil and Scotland
- Turkiye(Group D) – Bowed out following defeats to Australia and Paraguay
- Tunisia(Group F) – Exited after heavy losses to Sweden and Japan
- Jordan(Group J) – The tournament debutants fell to Austria and Algeria
- Panama(Group L) – Eliminated following consecutive 1-0 defeats
- Qatar(Group B) – The 2022 hosts finished bottom of their group after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Czechia(Group A) – Their elimination was confirmed after a 3-1 defeat to Mexico
Standings for the round 32! 🏆
WHO YOU GOT? 🔥💬 pic.twitter.com/HEFUro1NaU
— World Cup 2026 (@WorldCupMedia) June 25, 2026
First round-of-32 clash unveiled
The tournament’s opening knockout fixture has been set: South Africa will battle Canada in Los Angeles on June 28. This encounter carries extra significance as both nations prepare for their maiden appearances at this stage of World Cup competition, adding a layer of historical weight to the contest.
🚨 FIFA just dropped the OFFICIAL tiebreaker rules for 3rd-placed teams fighting for knockout stage spots!
In this order:
1️⃣ Points
2️⃣ Goal Difference
3️⃣ Goals Scored
4️⃣ Discipline (fair play)
5️⃣ FIFA World Rankings🏟️ No debates, no chaos — this is the definitive list! pic.twitter.com/KTYg43DInd
— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) June 25, 2026
New tie-breaker rules add intrigue
This edition marks the first time FIFA has implemented head-to-head results as the primary tie-breaker for teams level on points, replacing the traditional goal-difference criterion. This change has injected additional drama into the group-stage calculations, with several groups still hanging in the balance.
The final round of matches promises to deliver high-stakes football as the remaining qualification spots are contested.
