The 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting closer to the round of 16 of the knockout stage, and as the tournament progresses, the list of qualified teams continues to expand. Fifteen days into the competition, 12 teams have already secured their place in the knockout round.Let’s take a look at the qualified contestants.
Group A
MexicoMexico played three games in the tournament and won all of them. They defeated South Africa (2-0), South Korea (1-0) and the Czech Republic (3-0), and so far they have not conceded a single goal. They will play their round of 16 match on July 1.South AfricaThe South African campaign was a mixed bag. The side have won one of their three meetings, while losing their first game against Mexico and drawing against the Czech Republic. They won the last group stage against South Korea (1-0).
Group B
SwitzerlandSwitzerland won two out of three group stage games, and the first game ended in a draw against Qatar (1-1). After the draw, they beat Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-1) and Canada (2-1) and secured their place in the 32nd round.CanadaCanada’s campaign remained dramatic throughout the group stage. The national team recorded one victory (6-0), lost to Switzerland (1-2), and drew against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finishing second in Group B, they secured a place in the knockout stages.
Group C
BrazilBrazil, one of the favorites of the tournament, secured a place in the knockout round. The side’s chances did not look promising after the draw against Morocco in their opener. The absence of star Neymar is also a concern. However, Brazil bounced back with convincing victories over Haiti (3-0) and Scotland (3-0).MoroccoFinishing second behind Brazil, Morocco also advanced to the next round. The team beat Scotland (1-0) and Haiti (4-2) after drawing with Brazil in their first game.
Group D
USAThe USA remains the only team in Group D to have qualified for the Round of 16 so far. The team played two games and won both, defeating Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0). In the last match of the group stage, they will face Turkey, which has already been eliminated from the tournament.
Group E
GermanySimilar to the USA, Germany are the only team from their group to secure qualification. Julian Nagelsmann’s team impressed in both games, recording victories over Curacao (7-1) and Ivory Coast (2-1). Germany will play Ecuador in the final match of the group stage on June 26.
Group I
FranceFrance is another tournament favorite that has lived up to expectations so far. The team achieved impressive victories in both of its matches. Inspired by Kylian Mbappe’s brilliant performances, France defeated Senegal (3-1) and Iraq (3-0) and will face Norway in the final group stage game on June 26.NorwaySecond in the group, Norway was equally impressive. With Erling Haaland leading the charge, the Vikings comfortably advanced to the knockout stages. They beat Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2) in the first two matches.
Group J
ArgentinaOne of the most famous teams in world football and the defending champions, Argentina, secured their place in the knockout phase. The team led by Lionel Messi registered consecutive victories over Algeria (3-0) and Austria (2-0), and Messi played a key role. Argentina will face Jordan in the last match of the group stage.ColombiaColombia has played two games so far and won both convincingly. With victories over Jordan (2-0) and Uzbekistan (3-1), they secured a place in the round of 16.
Teams that can make it to the round of 32 from today’s match
Ivory CoastAfter two games, Ivory Coast registered one victory against Ecuador (1-0) and one defeat against Germany (1-2). They will be looking to keep their campaign alive at today’s Curacao meeting.The NetherlandsThe Netherlands top Group F. After a 5-1 win over Sweden and a 2-2 draw against Japan, they have a strong chance of qualifying if they beat Tunisia.JapanSecond in Group F, Japan have a similar chance of qualifying as the Netherlands. A win today would secure them a place in the round of 16. They beat Tunisia (4-0) after opening their campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.SwedenTaking third place in Group F, Sweden can not only cause problems for Japan but also ensure direct qualification with a win. The side beat Tunisia (5-1) but suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat against the Netherlands.AustraliaAfter two matches played, the Socceroos registered one victory against Turkey (2-0) and one defeat against the USA (0-2). A win over Paraguay would ensure their passage to the next round.ParaguayPlaced just behind Australia in Group D, Paraguay also remain in contention. They recorded one win over Turkey and one loss against the USA. Today’s game will determine whether their journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues.
