FIFA World Cup 2026: Six Nations Secure Round of 32 Spots as Early Eliminations Mount
As the knockout phase approaches on June 28, Mexico, the United States, Germany, Argentina, France, and Norway have confirmed their places in the last 32, while five teams face early exits under FIFA’s revised regulations.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is set to commence on June 28, marking the first iteration of a round of 32 bracket following the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams. The format dictates that the top two finishers from each of the 12 groups, alongside the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the elimination rounds. The competition will conclude with the final scheduled for July 19.
Six nations have already secured their passage to the knockout phase. Mexico qualified first by topping Group A with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on June 18. They were followed by the United States, who secured their spot by winning Group D with a 2-0 win against Australia on June 19. Germany entered the last 32 on June 20 after a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast, while Argentina sealed their qualification with a 2-0 win over Austria on June 22. France advanced to the round of 32 later that same day with a 3-0 victory over Iraq, and Norway completed the group of qualifiers after defeating Senegal 3-2.
The qualification process has been governed by a significant regulatory change implemented by FIFA. For the first time in World Cup history, head-to-head records are being used as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points, superseding goal difference. If teams remain tied after applying head-to-head criteria, further ranking protocols are applied to determine group standings. The eight best third-placed teams are selected based on specific comparative metrics to fill the remaining knockout slots.
On the other side of the bracket, five teams have been eliminated from the tournament. Haiti became the first nation to exit after a 3-0 loss to Brazil on June 19. Turkiye were eliminated shortly after, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay on the same day. Tunisia bowed out on June 20 following a 4-0 loss to Japan, and Jordan were eliminated on June 22 after a 2-1 defeat to Algeria. Panama was the fifth team to be knocked out, losing 1-0 to Croatia on June 23.
Individual performances have also defined the early stages of the expanded tournament. Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, while Kylian Mbappé scored a brace for France against Iraq. Norway’s qualification marks their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. The tournament continues with the round of 32 running from June 28 to July 3, leading into the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals.
