The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has begun to take shape after the first set of group matches confirmed early qualifiers and eliminations in the expanded tournament format.
The United States and Mexico have become the first sides to confirm their places in the round of 32, while Haiti and Turkiye have already been eliminated after failing to pick up enough points in their opening two games.
The tournament, which has expanded to 48 teams, is being played under a new structure that introduces a round of 32 for the first time in World Cup history.
The development has accelerated the qualification process, with several teams already securing progression before the final group matches are completed.
Early movements in group stage
Mexico sealed their qualification with a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea, adding to their opening 2-0 win against South Africa.
The results ensured six points from two matches, confirming their place in the knockout rounds with one group game still to play.
The United States also made a strong start to their campaign. After a commanding 4-1 win over Paraguay in their opener, they followed it up with a 2-0 victory against Australia, which guaranteed their advancement from Group D.
Under FIFA’s revised format, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups progress automatically, alongside the eight best third-placed sides.
The round of 32 will run from June 28 to July 3, followed by the round of 16 and subsequent knockout rounds leading to the final on July 19.
Setbacks for eliminated sides
While some teams have already booked their places in the next round, others have seen their campaigns end early.
Haiti became the first nation eliminated after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, following an earlier 1-0 loss to Scotland. Turkiye were the next side to exit the competition after a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay, having previously lost 2-0 to Australia.
Both teams were left without a point after two matches, making it impossible for them to reach the qualification threshold under the new system.
With group matches still ongoing, more teams are expected to confirm progression or exit in the coming days.
