Which teams have qualified for World Cup 2026 knockout stage round of 32? | OneFootball

Knockout-stage slots are filling up ahead of the third round of group games

As the 2026 World Cup moves through its second game week, several teams have already secured their spot in the knockout rounds.

Six teams have already made it to the round of 32 - which is a new round of games due to the 48-team expansion of this World Cup - meaning there are still 26 spaces up for grabs.

Another change this tournament is how the group tables work: they are decided on head-to-head results, rather than goal difference, so several teams have already secured their place as group winners and know the date of their knockout game.

Which teams have qualified for the knockouts?

Co-hosts Mexico qualified from Group A with ease after a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opener before narrowly beating South Korea 1-0. As group winners their round-of-32 game is confirmed: Tuesday, June 30 at the Azteca Stadium - they will play one of the best third-placed teams from Group C, E, F, H or I.

Fellow co-hosts USA started with a surprise 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay - thanks to a Folarin Balogun double - before a comfortable 2-0 victory over Australia. Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s round-of-32 game is Wednesday, July 1, in San Francisco - they also play one of the best third-placed teams, but from Group B, E, F, I or J.

Florian Balogun has three goals at this World Cup

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Germany, managed by Julian Nagelsmann, were the biggest winners of the first gameweek with a 7-1 win over Curacao, but they needed a late Denis Undav goal to squeeze past Ivory Coast 2-1. Their round-of-32 match is Monday, June 29, in Boston - they play a best third-placed team from A, B, C, D or F.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 opening win and a double in the 2-0 victory over Austria to move him top of the World Cup scoring charts on 18 goals. Their first knockout game is Friday, July 3 in Miami when they play Group H runners-up - this, as it stands, is Uruguay.

France have been led by Kylian Mbappe

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France opened their campaign with a frenetic 3-1 win over Senegal, before comfortably beating Iraq 3-0, with Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace in both and moving to 16 World Cup goals - just two behind Messi. Their place as Group I winners is not confirmed yet, as they are yet to play final group opponent...

...which is Norway, who at the World Cup after a 28-year absence. They swatted away Iraq 4-1 and beat Senegal 3-2 in a topsy-turvy affair. Like Mbappe, Erling Haaland scored a brace in each to mark his debut World Cup. Their final match is against France, in a winner-takes-all clash for top spot.