The group stage of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded, with nations booking places in the inaugural Round of 32 as the race for football’s biggest prize enters the knockout phase.
Under FIFA’s new 48-team format, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, progressed to the knockout stage.
The qualified teams are:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa
Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia
Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
Group G: Belgium, Egypt
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana.
Several nations have emerged as surprise packages. Cape Verde reached the knockout stage for the first time in their history, while DR Congo also advanced after recording a memorable comeback victory over Uzbekistan. Morocco continued its impressive run by finishing the group stage unbeaten, and Norway secured a place in the knockout rounds after a strong campaign.
The Round of 32 begins with co-host Canada taking on South Africa, while other standout fixtures include Brazil versus Japan, Germany against Paraguay, Netherlands versus Morocco, France against Sweden, England versus DR Congo, Belgium against Senegal, Portugal against Croatia and Argentina against Cape Verde.
Traditional heavyweights including Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain remain among the favourites to lift the trophy, but the expanded tournament has already produced several surprises, setting the stage for an unpredictable knockout phase.
