THE 32-team knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been confirmed following the completion of the group phase, with the expanded tournament delivering a mix of expected qualifiers and notable upsets ahead of the Round of 32.
Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico all advanced to the knockout rounds, joining traditional football powers Argentina, France, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Portugal, England and the Netherlands, who safely negotiated the group stage.
Uruguay emerged as one of the tournament's biggest casualties after failing to advance for the second consecutive World Cup, finishing third in Group H and missing out on one of the eight places reserved for the best third-placed teams.
Other nations eliminated before the knockout stage include Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Iraq, Panama, Qatar, Czechia, Haiti, Curaçao and Türkiye.
One of the competition's standout stories came from tournament debutants Cabo Verde, who became the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage and were rewarded with a Round of 32 meeting against Lionel Messi's Argentina.
The Round of 32 will be played from June 28 to July 4, with the winners progressing to the last 16 of the expanded 48-team tournaments.
Among the headline knockout ties, the United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada take on South Africa, while Argentina meet Cabo Verde.
Qualified teams by group
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Group D: United States, Australia
Group E: Germany, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde
Group I: France, Norway, Senegal
Group J: Argentina
Group K: Colombia
The remaining qualifiers completed the 32-team field after the final group-stage fixtures, setting the stage for the opening knockout round of football's biggest tournament. - June 27, 2026
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