Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe 2026 World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 nations, organised into 12 groups of four teams. The knockout stages will comprise the 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and the eight best third-placed teams. Seven teams had already secured their spot in the knockout rounds by winning both of their initial matches - and now more have qualified following the third round of games in several of the groups.Conversely, several teams have been eliminated from the tournament after suffering defeats in both of their opening fixtures. Teams that have qualified for the knockout stages are as follows: Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Australia, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, France, Norway, Argentina, and Colombia. In fullWho has qualified for the knockout stages and which teams have been eliminated from the World Cup?Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Which teams are through to the World Cup 2026 knockout stages?
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe 2026 World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 nations, organised into 12 groups of four teams. The knockout stages will comprise the 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and the eight best third-placed teams. Seven teams had already secured their spot in the knockout rounds by winning both of their initial matches - and now more have qualified following the third round of games in several of the groups.Conversely, several teams have been eliminated from the tournament after suffering defeats in both of their opening fixtures. Teams that have qualified for the knockout stages are as follows: Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Australia, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, France, Norway, Argentina, and Colombia. In fullWho has qualified for the knockout stages and which teams have been eliminated from the World Cup?Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
