Which teams have qualified for the World Cup 2026 knockouts, round of 32?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a new knockout stage format beginning with the round of 32, running from June 28 to July 3. Qualification for this stage is determined by the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-place finishers.

Briefing Summary
AI-generatedThe 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a new knockout stage format beginning with the round of 32, running from June 28 to July 3. Qualification for this stage is determined by the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-place finishers. This expansion to 48 teams necessitates the round of 32. For the first time at a World Cup, head-to-head records will be used as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points, replacing goal difference. Some teams, such as Haiti, Turkiye, and Tunisia, have already been eliminated as they cannot advance based on current standings and previous losses to third-place teams. The knockout phase progresses through the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and concludes with the final on July 19.
Article analysis
Model · rule-basedKey claims
5 extractedThe 2026 World Cup final is on July 19.
Haiti, Turkiye and Tunisia have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups.
FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup.
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage begins with the round of 32.