Seven national teams have punched their tickets to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico, USA, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, and Colombia have all secured advancement through the group stage in the first-ever 48-team tournament.
How the group stage unfolded
Mexico became the first team to qualify for the knockout stage on June 18, following a 1-0 victory over South Korea. The USA, Germany, Argentina, France, and Norway confirmed their spots between June 22 and June 23. Colombia rounded out the group of seven qualifiers through a series of strong group stage performances.
This is the inaugural 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Previous tournaments capped at 32 teams, meaning the round of 32 is itself a new stage.
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