The knockout stage of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup is now set after a dramatic group phase that saw 72 matches played and 16 teams eliminated from the tournament.
The first edition of the World Cup featuring 48 teams delivered its share of surprises, breakout performances and late drama as 32 nations secured places in the round of 32.
Pre-tournament favourites including Argentina, France, Spain and England all progressed comfortably, while several emerging nations produced historic achievements to reach the knockout rounds.
African teams deliver historic performance
Africa emerged as one of the biggest success stories of the group stage, with nine of its 10 representatives advancing to the knockout phase.
Among the standout performers were Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both reaching significant milestones in their football history.
Cape Verde, appearing at the World Cup for the first time, secured qualification after drawing all three group-stage matches. The island nation now faces the daunting task of taking on defending champions Argentina in the round of 32.
The Democratic Republic of Congo also made history by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time. The Leopards’ only previous World Cup appearance came in 1974 when the country competed as Zaire.
Their reward is a high-profile clash against England in Atlanta.
The strong showing by African nations underlines the continent’s growing influence on the global football stage and represents one of the strongest collective performances by African teams in World Cup history.
Uruguay among major casualties
While several underdogs celebrated qualification, a number of established football nations saw their World Cup dreams end early.
The most notable elimination was Uruguay. Ranked 16th in the world entering the tournament, the two-time World Cup champions failed to progress after managing only two draws and a defeat in Group H.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa accepted responsibility following Uruguay’s exit, admitting he had failed to get the best from a talented squad.
“I wasn’t able to get the best out of the quality Uruguay has in its players,” Bielsa said after the team’s elimination.
Iran also suffered heartbreak. Team Melli drew all three of their group matches and appeared destined for qualification until a dramatic late goal by Austria against Algeria altered the standings and knocked the Iranians out of the tournament.
Other nations eliminated during the group stage included Haiti, Tunisia, Türkiye, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, Czechia, Curaçao, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.
Only three teams maintain perfect records
Argentina, France and Mexico emerged as the only teams to win all three group-stage matches.
Argentina continued to look every bit the defending champions, while France once again demonstrated the depth of their attacking talent.
Co-host Mexico also impressed, using home support and disciplined performances to finish the group stage with a flawless record.
Heavyweight clashes await
The knockout phase promises several intriguing matchups.
One of the standout fixtures will see the Netherlands face Morocco. The Dutch scored 10 goals during the group stage while Morocco continued the momentum that saw them become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022.
England’s meeting with DR Congo will also attract attention as the African side attempts to continue its historic run.
Defending champions Argentina face tournament debutants Cape Verde, while Brazil take on Japan in another highly anticipated encounter.
The United States, one of the three host nations to reach the knockout phase, will face Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Golden Boot race intensifies
The race for the Golden Boot remains wide open heading into the knockout rounds.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi leads the scoring charts with six goals after an outstanding group-stage campaign.
Four players sit closely behind on four goals each:
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Ousmane Dembélé (France)
- Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
- Erling Haaland (Norway)
England captain Harry Kane is among a group of 10 players who have scored three goals.
With potentially four matches remaining for the finalists, the battle to finish as the tournament’s top scorer remains one of the most compelling storylines of the competition.
Round of 32 fixtures
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- South Africa vs Canada
Monday, June 29, 2026
- Brazil vs Japan
- Germany vs Paraguay
- Netherlands vs Morocco
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
- Ivory Coast vs Norway
- France vs Sweden
- Mexico vs Ecuador
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- England vs DR Congo
- Belgium vs Senegal
- United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- Spain vs Austria
- Portugal vs Croatia
- Switzerland vs Algeria
Friday, July 3, 2026
- Australia vs Egypt
- Argentina vs Cape Verde
- Colombia vs Ghana
Road to the final
The round of 16 will be played between July 4 and July 7, followed by the quarterfinals from July 9 to July 11.
The semifinals are scheduled for July 14 in Arlington and July 15 in Atlanta.
The third-place playoff will take place in Miami Gardens on July 18 before the tournament concludes with the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
With traditional powers still in contention and several emerging nations continuing their dream runs, the knockout phase promises to deliver the most compelling football of the tournament so far.
