World Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified for the knockout rounds?

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World Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified for the knockout rounds?
© Iconsport / MB Media/Zuma/Xinhua

Following the conclusion of the group stage at World Cup 2026, 32 sides have secured their spots in the first knockout round, with 16 teams headed home.

The group stage concluded on Saturday (Sunday morning in the UK), with Congo DR's rousing 3-1 comeback win over Uzbekistan sealing the Leopards' progress in their second appearance at the Mundial since 1974. 

With the knockout stage starting on Sunday, with Canada's last-32 meeting with South Africa, but who else has joined them in the knockout rounds? 

Sports Mole tracks how each group finishes and explains how the rest of the 32-team bracket comes together.

World Cup 2026: How round of 32 qualification works

Germany's Kai Havertz celebrates scoring with Nathaniel Brown on June 14, 2026
© Imago / Ulmer, Teamfoto

The 2026 World Cup is the first edition with 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four. From each group, the top two finishers advance automatically, the remaining eight places go to the best eight third-placed teams across all 12 groups - 32 teams in total.

If teams finish level on points, FIFA breaks the tie in this order:

  1. Points, then goal difference, then goals scored in matches between the tied teams only
  2. Goal difference, then goals scored, across all group matches
  3. Disciplinary record (yellow and red cards)
  4. FIFA World Ranking position

The Round of 32 is scheduled for June 29 to July 4, with the Round of 16 following from July 4 to July 7.

Teams confirmed for the World Cup round of 32

  • Group A: Mexico, South Africa
  • Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Group C: Brazil, Morocco
  • Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay
  • Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
  • Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
  • Group G: Belgium, Egypt
  • Group H: Spain, Cape Verde
  • Group I: France, Norway, Senegal
  • Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria
  • Group K: Colombia, Portugal, Congo DR
  • Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana

Mexico

Mexico were the first team through, topping Group A with wins over South Africa (2-0) and South Korea (1-0). 

As Group A winners, the hosts are locked into a Round of 32 meeting on July 1 against a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H or I, with the match staying in the capital at Mexico City Stadium - better known by its long-standing name, Estadio Azteca.

USA

The USA followed shortly after, sealing Group D with wins over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0). That gives the co-hosts a July 2 date against Bosnia-Herzegovina, played at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara.

Germany

Germany became the third team to qualify, winning Group E courtesy of their 7-1 victory over Curacao with Kai Havertz scoring a brace and Deniz Undav coming off the bench to score twice, including a 90+4 winner against Ivory Coast. The Germans face a third-place team from Group C, D or F on June 29 at Gillette Stadium in Boston.

Argentina

Argentina became the fourth side to book their spot in the knockout round when they recorded a 2-0 win over Austria courtesy of a brace from Lionel Messi, who is now the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with 18 goals.

The South American nation will take on the runner-up in Group H on July 3 in Miami Gardens.

France

Pre-tournament favourites France have punched their ticket to the last 32 with a game to spare after following up their 3-1 victory over Senegal with a 3-0 success against Iraq on matchday two.

Their place as Group I winners is yet to be confirmed, as they are still to play their final group opponent...

Norway

... that opponent is Norway, who have also accumulated six points from their first two matches, beating Iraq 4-1 and then securing a 3-2 win over Senegal on matchday two, with Erling Haaland scoring three goals across those games.

Norway, back on the global stage for the first time since 1998, currently sit behind France in Group I on goal difference and will therefore need to best Les Bleus if they with to climb to the summit.

Switzerland

Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 on June 24 to secure first spot in Group B.

The Swiss will be in Vancouver on July 2 against a third-placed finisher from Group E, F, G, I or J.

Canada

Canada will play South Africa in Inglewood on June 28 after finishing in second spot in Group B. 

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina moved to the brink of qualification with a 3-1 win over Qatar in their final group game. Scotland's defeat to Brazil subsequently confirmed Sergej Barbarez's side as one of the eight best third-placed sides and they will now face the USA in Santa Clara on July 1.

South Africa

South Africa snatched second spot in Group A with a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea on matchday three, which set up a Round of 32 meeting with Group B runners-up Canada. 

Canada secured a 1-0 success to book a round of 16 place at Bafana Bafana's expense. 

Colombia

Colombia sealed their place in the knockout rounds with back-to-back victories over Uzbekistan and DR Congo.

Sitting two points above Portugal, Colombia need to avoid defeat in their final group game to secure top spot in Group K.

Brazil

Brazil advanced to the Round of 32 as Group C winners after beating Scotland 3-0 on matchday three. Carlo Ancelotti's side will face Japan in Houston on June 29.

Morocco

Morocco finished level on points with Brazil, but they missed out on top spot due to goal difference, setting up a Round of 32 clash against the Netherlands in Guadalupe on June 29.

Australia

Australia booked their place in the knockouts after drawing 0-0 with Paraguay and they will now face the runner-up from Group G in Arlington on July 3.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast reached the knockouts for the first time in their history after a 2-0 win over Curacao and will meet the runner-up from Group I on June 30 in Arlington.

Ecuador

Ecuador have qualified as one of the best third-placed sides following a 2-1 win over Germany, but it is not yet confirmed who their Round of 32 opponent will be.

Netherlands

Netherlands are set to face Morocco on June 29 in Gudalupe, having topped Group F with a 3-1 win over Tunisia.

Japan

Japan finished second in Group F after drawing 1-1 with Sweden and will now take on Brazil in Houston on June 29.

Sweden

Congo DR

Having been on the brink of elimination with 45 minutes played against Uzbekistan on Saturday, a Yoane Wissa-inspired second half carried the Leopards through to a 3-1 victory, marking their first win at the Mundial to advance to the last 32.

Paraguay

Paraguay had a chance to leapfrog Australia into second, but they ultimately settled for third place in Group D.

Portugal

Fighting for top spot, Cristiano Ronaldo and co. could only claim a goalless game with eventual group winners Colombia, sending the 2016 European champions to the seemingly tougher side of the draw. 

Austria 

The Disgrace of Gijon dominated discussions before Austria and Algeria played, but their meeting on Sunday was incredibly thrilling.

While Algeria seemed to be knocking out Ralf Rangnick's men after Riyad Mahrez's 93rd-minute goal, Sasa Kalajdzic levelled three minutes later to keep Austria in the competition.

Algeria

Needing a draw to avoid elimination, Algeria were close to a victory on Saturday, only to lose their late lead, seeing them only temporarily rise to second before dropping to third due to their inferior goal difference

How the rest of the World Cup bracket takes shape

© Iconsport / Newspix

Every other team's last-32 fate hinges on finishing first, second, or among the top eight third-placed sides in their group. FIFA fixes in advance which groups can feed into each fixture, so once a team's group position is set, their possible opponents narrow to a short list rather than all 47 other teams in the tournament.

A few rules hold across the whole bracket: group winners generally face a third-place qualifier from a defined set of groups, usually the more favourable draw on paper; runners-up are pre-paired against the runner-up of one specific group, while third-place qualifiers only learn their opponent once all 12 groups are finished and the eight best third-place finishers are ranked.

FIFA has also built two separate pathways through the bracket so the tournament's two highest-ranked teams can't meet before the final, provided both keep winning. Spain (ranked No.3) and defending champions Argentina (No.1) were drawn into opposite pathways on that basis.

World Cup 2026: What to expect in the coming days

Group winners, runners-up and third-place qualifiers will keep clinching spots as the group stage wraps up. Rather than freeze a one-day snapshot, the list above is updated with each newly confirmed team and matchup as results land, so check back as matchday three concludes for the complete 32-team picture.

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