The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely into its group stage, and the graveyard is already crowded. Seven teams have been eliminated from the tournament as of June 26, with Haiti, Türkiye, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, and Czechia all booking early flights home.
Here’s the thing about an expanded 48-team World Cup: more teams means more losers. And a FIFA rule change that allows elimination after just two group matches has accelerated the process, turning what used to be a slow bleed into something closer to a trap door.
The early exits, graded
Haiti: D-
Haiti earned the unfortunate distinction of being the first team eliminated from the entire tournament. A 1-0 loss to Scotland was competitive enough to inspire some hope, but a 3-0 defeat to Brazil erased any illusions. Two matches, zero goals scored, four conceded.
