World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage: France, Argentina, Norway Join USA, Mexico, Germany in Round of 32

As Matchday 2 unfolds, the lineup for the Round of 32 is becoming clearer. Two of the host nations, the United States and Mexico, have already secured their spots by winning their groups. Meanwhile, Canada has gathered four points after two games and will face Switzerland to decide Group B's top spot.

The knockout phase will include 32 teams—top two from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers.

FIFA Tie-Break Rules

FIFA’s method for breaking ties goes as follows:

• Step 1: Points earned in matches among tied teams, goal difference in those games, and goals scored.
• Step 2: If still tied, overall goal difference, total goals scored, then team conduct score (yellow/red cards).
• Step 3: If no resolution, FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking is used.

Teams Qualified for Round of 32

• United States
• Mexico
• Germany
• Argentina
• France
• Norway

The U.S. claimed Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia, securing advancement before facing Türkiye. Their knockout match is set for July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, against a third-place team from Groups B, E, F, I, or J.

Mexico topped Group A by shutting out South Africa and South Korea. Their next game will be June 30 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City against a third-place finisher from Groups C, E, F, H, or I.

Germany booked their spot after consecutive wins over Curaçao and Ivory Coast. A draw between Ecuador and Curaçao confirmed Germany as Group E winners. They'll face a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D, or F on June 29 in Boston.

Argentina secured advancement with a win over Austria and awaits their last group match versus Jordan. They will meet the runner-up from Group H on July 3 in Miami.

Both France and Norway earned knockout round berths after victories over Iraq and Senegal. Group I became the first with multiple teams advancing. Their final group match on Friday in Boston will determine who finishes first, affecting seeding and possibly an easier Round of 32 opponent.

Teams Eliminated from the Tournament

• Haiti
• Türkiye
• Tunisia
• Jordan

Making their first World Cup appearance since 1974, Haiti still seeks their inaugural victory. Losses to Scotland and Brazil leave them finishing against Morocco.

Türkiye, once considered a group contender, exited early after defeats by Australia and Paraguay. Their last World Cup appearance was in 2002 when they reached third place. Türkiye will face group winners the U.S. on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Tunisia started poorly, suffering a 5-1 loss to Sweden. The federation replaced the coach with Hervé Renard, but a 4-0 defeat to Japan ended their hopes.

Jordan lost their opener to Austria and fell to Algeria, ending their tournament before facing defending champions Argentina.

New Knockout Bracket Structure by FIFA

This edition of the World Cup features changes in the knockout bracket designed to balance competition. Two separate paths lead to the semifinals, keeping the top two seeded teams from clashing early. For instance, highest-ranked Spain and defending champion Argentina are on opposite sides, as are third-ranked France and fourth-ranked England. This setup means the top four teams could avoid meeting until the semifinals if they win their groups.