The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced several historic moments, with a number of nations either setting new records or matching their greatest-ever achievements on football’s biggest stage.
From debutants making an instant impact to long-waiting nations finally breaking through in the knockout rounds, the expanded 48-team tournament has created opportunities for teams to rewrite their football history.
Here are the countries that have achieved their best-ever World Cup runs at the 2026 tournament.
Canada
Canada made history by reaching the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time. Having previously exited in the group stage during their only two previous appearances in 1986 and 2022, the Canadians progressed to the Round of 16 before their campaign ended against Morocco.
