FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Full List of Qualified and Eliminated Teams

Shahzaib Dyer
Published June 29, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially entered the Round of 32, with 32 nations securing their places in the knockout stage after an action-packed group phase. Meanwhile, 16 teams have seen their World Cup dreams come to an end after failing to advance from their respective groups.

The expanded 48-team tournament has delivered several surprises, including historic qualifications for debutants and stunning exits for established football nations.

32 Teams That Qualified for the FIFA World Cup Round of 32

The following teams have successfully booked their places in the knockout stage:

Group Winners and Runners-up

Mexico
South Africa
Switzerland
Canada
Brazil
Morocco
United States
Australia
Germany
Ivory Coast
Netherlands
Japan
Belgium
Egypt
Spain
Cape Verde
France
Norway
Argentina
Austria
Colombia
Portugal
England
Croatia

Best Third-Placed Teams

The following eight teams advanced as the best third-placed finishers:

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ecuador
Sweden
Paraguay
Senegal
DR Congo
Ghana
Algeria

The expanded World Cup format allows the eight best third-placed teams to progress alongside the top two teams from each of the 12 groups.

Teams Eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Sixteen nations were knocked out during the group stage:

Haiti
Turkiye
Tunisia
Jordan
Panama
Qatar
Czechia
Curacao
New Zealand
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Iran
Scotland
Uzbekistan
South Korea

Uruguay, Iran, Scotland, and South Korea, amongst others, were among the high-profile groups to fall short of expectations, while exiting the tournament.

Historic Performances Highlight Group Stage

There were many memorable moments during the group stage. Cape Verde advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in World Cup history, and South Africa advanced for the first time in South African history.

Defending champions Argentina, five-time victor Brazil, European powerhouses Germany, France, Spain, England and Portugal all safely advanced and are favorites for the win.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Begins

The knockout stage will allow for a few blockbusters as teams fight it out for a spot in the Round of 16. The tournament is now taking a winner-takes-all format, with many matches likely to be extremely fierce.

As the journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final unfolds, football enthusiasts worldwide will be closely watching as only one country will secure the global victory.

Shahzaib Dyer

Shahzaib is content writer with over five years of professional experience. He is creative, hardworking, and possess extensive research skills. Being analytical in approach is highly reflected in his writing.