The 2026 FIFA World Cup is inching closer to its knockout stage of 32, and as the tournament progresses, the list of qualified teams continues to expand. Fifteen days into the competition, 12 teams have already secured their places in the knockout rounds.Let’s take a look at the qualified contenders.
Group A
MexicoMexico played three matches in the tournament and emerged victorious in all of them. They defeated South Africa (2-0), South Korea (1-0) and Czechia (3-0), without conceding a single goal so far. On July 1 they will play their Round of 32 match.South AfricaSouth Africa’s campaign was mixed. The team won one of their three games, while losing their opener against Mexico and losing against the Czech Republic. They won their last group stage against South Korea (1-0).
Group B
SwitzerlandSwitzerland won two of their three group stage matches, with the first match ending in a draw against Qatar (1-1). After the draw, they defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-1) and Canada (2-1) to secure a place in the 32nd round.CanadaCanada’s campaign has been dramatic throughout the group stage. The team recorded a win (6-0), suffered a defeat against Switzerland (1-2), and played a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finishing second in Group B, they booked their place in the knockouts.
Group C
BrazilOne of the favorites of the tournament, Brazil secured their place in the knockout rounds. The team’s chances did not look promising after a draw against Morocco in their opening match. The absence of star striker Neymar was also a concern. However, Brazil bounced back with convincing wins over Haiti (3-0) and Scotland (3-0).MoroccoOccupying second place behind Brazil, Morocco also advanced to the next round. The team defeated Scotland (1-0) and Haiti (4-2) after losing to Brazil in their opening match.
Group D
USAThe USA remains the only team from Group D to have qualified for the Round of 32 so far. The team played two matches and won both, defeating Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0). They will take on Turkey in their final match of the group stage having already been eliminated from the tournament.
Group E
GermanySimilar to the USA, Germany is the only team in its group that has secured qualification. Julian Nagelsmann’s team impressed in their two games, registering victories over Curaçao (7-1) and Ivory Coast (2-1). Germany will play Ecuador in their final group stage match on June 26.
Group I
FranceFrance is another tournament favorite that has lived up to expectations so far. The team secured impressive wins in both their matches. Inspired by Kylian Mbappe’s brilliant performances, France defeated Senegal (3-1) and Iraq (3-0), and will face Norway in their group stage final on June 26.NorwaySecond in the group, Norway was equally impressive. With Erling Haaland leading the attack, the Vikings comfortably advanced to the knockout stages. They defeated Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2) in their opening two games.
Group J
ArgentinaOne of the most celebrated teams in world football and the defending champions, Argentina, have secured their place in the knockout stages. The team led by Lionel Messi recorded back-to-back wins over Algeria (3-0) and Austria (2-0), with Messi playing a key role. Argentina will face Jordan in their final group stage match.ColombiaColombia have played two matches so far and won both comfortably. The victories over Jordan (2-0) and Uzbekistan (3-1) secured their qualification for the Round of 32.
The teams that can make their way into the 32nd round from today’s match
Ivory CoastAfter two games, Ivory Coast recorded a win against Ecuador (1-0) and a defeat against Germany (1-2). They aim to keep their campaign alive in Curaçao Day.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 defeat Tunisia.JapanSecond in Group F, Japan has a similar chance of qualifying as the Netherlands. A win today would secure their place in the Round of 32. They defeated Tunisia (4-0) after opening their campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.SwedenOccupying third place in Group F, Sweden can not only upset Japan, but also secure direct qualification with a win. The team defeated Tunisia (5-1) but suffered a heavy defeat 1-5 against the Netherlands.AustraliaAfter playing two matches, the Socceroos recorded a win against Turkey (2-0) and a defeat against the USA (0-2). A win over Paraguay will ensure their progression to the next round.ParaguaySitting just behind Australia in Group D, Paraguay also remain in contention. They recorded a win over Turkey and a defeat against the USA. Today’s match will determine whether their journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues.
Which team do you think has the best chance of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
