Nineteen teams have now confirmed their places in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the group phase continues to produce decisive results across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Former champions Argentina, Brazil, France and Germany are among the countries already through to the Round of 32, while co-hosts Mexico, the United States and Canada have also extended their campaigns.
The expanded 48-team tournament allows the top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed sides, to progress to the knockout stage.
Qualified teams so far
The teams that have secured qualification are Mexico, United States, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Australia.
Group winners lead the way
Mexico became the first nation to qualify after finishing top of Group A with victories over South Africa and South Korea.
The United States followed by winning Group D, while Germany returned to the knockout rounds after topping Group E following victories over Curacao and Ivory Coast despite a final-day defeat to Ecuador.
Defending champions Argentina also secured first place in Group J after Lionel Messi inspired wins over Algeria and Austria, while France finished top of Group I after opening victories against Senegal and Iraq.
Colombia, Switzerland, Brazil and the Netherlands have also wrapped up first place in their respective groups.
Third-placed teams stay alive
Norway, Canada, Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Japan and Australia all advanced after finishing second in their groups.
Three nations have also booked their places through the competition’s best third-placed ranking. Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified after defeating Qatar 3-1, while Ecuador progressed despite finishing behind Germany and Ivory Coast in Group E.
Sweden also earned a place in the Round of 32 after collecting four points in Group F.
The qualification race remains open for several nations, with 13 places in the knockout stage still to be decided before the conclusion of the group phase.
The expanded World Cup format has created more opportunities for teams to reach the knockout rounds, increasing competition across all groups.
Attention now shifts to the remaining fixtures, where several countries will battle for the final automatic qualification spots and the remaining best third-placed positions as the tournament moves closer to the Round of 32.
