Key Facts
—The experiment. The 2026 tournament was the first with 48 teams and a 32-side knockout round, widening the door for smaller nations.
—The debutant. Cabo Verde, a nation of about 525,000 people, was the only tournament debutant to reach the last thirty-two, and lost 3-2 to Argentina after extra time on July 3.
—The returnee. DR Congo, in their first finals since playing as Zaire in 1974, led England before Harry Kane’s late double sealed a 2-1 win.
—The first-timers in the last 32. South Africa reached a World Cup knockout round for the first time, then lost 1-0 to Canada on a stoppage-time goal.
