France is through to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, cementing their place in the round of 32 after advancing from Group I.
The 2026 edition is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, up from the longstanding 32-team format. The tournament organizers have structured the competition into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers advancing to a brand new round of 32 knockout phase. A total of 104 matches are scheduled across the tournament, spread across host nations the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
How France got here
France secured their qualification with a win over Iraq, a match that dealt with weather delays before Les Bleus ultimately got the job done. The victory pushed their probability of advancing to 100%, ahead of a remaining group fixture against Norway. France is set to face a third-place team in the round of 32, with the knockout stage kicking off between June 28 and June 30, 2026.
Potential later matchups could include Germany, depending on how the bracket unfolds.
