The knockout picture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is becoming clearer as more teams book their places in the Round of 32, while several others continue battling for the remaining spots in the expanded tournament.
With the World Cup featuring 48 teams for the first time, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, qualify for the knockout stage. The new format has kept qualification hopes alive for more nations and added extra drama to the final round of group matches.
Among the teams already through are Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, the United States, Australia, Germany, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands, Japan, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia and Canada, which has reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in its history. Several third-placed teams, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Sweden and Paraguay, have also secured progression based on their results.
Traditional football powerhouses such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France and the Netherlands have largely lived up to expectations, while the tournament has also produced memorable performances from emerging nations. Canada’s historic qualification has been one of the standout stories, delighting home fans in one of the tournament’s host countries.
However, the race is far from over. The final group-stage fixtures will determine the remaining qualifiers and decide several group winners, which will shape the Round of 32 matchups. Teams in Groups G, H, I, J, K and L are still fighting for automatic qualification or one of the coveted best third-place spots.
The knockout phase begins on June 28, with the first Round of 32 fixtures scheduled across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. From there, the tournament moves into a straight knockout format, where every match becomes a do-or-die contest.
As the group stage draws to a close, fans can expect more twists and emotional moments.
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