Which countries are out of the World Cup? Are England out of the World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup got underway in June with 48 nations all dreaming of lifting football's most prestigious trophy.

As the tournament has progressed, however, the number of sides has continued to shrink.

The conclusion of the group stage saw 16 teams eliminated, while each knockout round has ended the hopes of more nations.

While some countries have already packed their bags and headed home, others remain in the hunt to reach the World Cup final at New York City's MetLife Stadium.

So, which countries have already been knocked out of the 2026 World Cup, and how did their tournament come to an end?

Which countries were knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage?

• Turkey
• Haiti
• New Zealand
• Tunisia
• Jordan
• Panama
• Qatar
• Czech Republic
• Curacao
• Saudi Arabia
• Iraq
• Uzbekistan
• Iran
• South Korea
• Scotland
• Uruguay

Which notable countries have been eliminated in the Round of 32?

Japan

Hajime Moriyasu’s Japanese side had high expectations going into their World Cup campaign and progressed to the knockout stages after one win and two draws helped them secure a second-place finish in Group F.

Despite taking the lead against Brazil after 29 minutes through Kaishu Sano, they were left heartbroken after Gabriel Martinelli’s dramatic 95th-minute winner sent the five-time winners out and into a knockout clash with Norway.

Germany

The most surprising shock of the tournament so far, Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany team saw their hopes of lifting the World Cup for a fifth time ended after they were stunned by Paraguay in a thrilling penalty shootout defeat.

They went behind just before half-time and never led in the shootout despite going first. It was the first game of the tournament to go all the way to penalties.

Netherlands

The second game of the tournament to go to penalties saw the end of the Netherlands and their World Cup ambitions.

The Dutch missed three of their spot-kicks before Morocco sealed the win, setting up a Round of 16 encounter in Houston with co-hosts Canada.

As a result of their poor early exit, Ronald Koeman stepped down as Netherlands head coach.

DR Congo

England narrowly avoided a major World Cup shock as they were pushed all the way by DR Congo in a tense Round of 16 clash.

Brian Cipenga gave Sebastien Desabre’s side a dream start after seven minutes, and they threatened consistently throughout the opening 45 minutes.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was outstanding throughout, producing a string of crucial saves to keep DR Congo ahead, but two late Harry Kane goals spared England’s blushes and ended DR Congo’s campaign in cruel fashion.

Croatia

Croatia were seconds away from forcing extra time before a dramatic VAR decision brought their World Cup campaign to a heartbreaking end against Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal before Goncalo Ramos struck a 94th minute winner, although Josko Gvardiol thought he had rescued the tie deep into stoppage time.

However, his 103rd minute equaliser was ruled out for offside following a VAR review, confirming Zlatko Dalic's side's elimination in cruel fashion.

Senegal

As one of the main Africa's hopes at the World Cup, Senegal were looking to reach the latter stages at the tournament and things were looking great for them as they took a 2-0 lead against Belgium in a game in which they seemed to completely be in control.

However, Belgium managed to score a goal pretty much out of nothing in the 86th minute, and then the second one came in a similar fashion in the 89th minute, pushing the match into extra time.

It looked like the game was destined to go to a penalty shootout but, likely seconds away from the final whistle, Senegal conceded a penalty. Belgium, or to be more precise Youri Tielemans, who scored the equalizer, took the responsibility and scored the winner in the 125th minute, sending Senegal home.

Cape Verde

Perhaps the story of the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde's remarkable campaign came to a heartbreaking end after a 111th-minute Diney Borges own goal spared holders Argentina from one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.

The smallest nation ever to compete in a World Cup knockout match, Cape Verde twice fought back against the reigning champions, with Deroy Duarte cancelling out Lionel Messi’s opener.

Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning extra time equaliser made it 2-2 after Lisandro Martinez had put Argentina back in front.

With penalties looming, Borges' unfortunate late own goal proved decisive, denying Cape Verde the chance to take the tie all the way and bringing their remarkable World Cup journey to a heartbreaking end.

Other countries eliminated from the World Cup in Round of 32:

• Sweden
• South Africa
• Austria
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Ivory Coast
• Ecuador
• Australia
• Algeria
• Ghana

Which notable countries have been eliminated in the Round of 16?

Brazil

Despite having one of the arguably best coaches ever at the helm in Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil were never among the main favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. The five-time world champions were already struggling in the Round of 32 against Japan, having to turn the game around to progress thanks to a late winner. So, ahead of their Round of 16 duel with Norway, led by Erling Haaland, there were doubts about Brazil's chances of winning the match.

We saw an exciting game and Brazil had the chance to draw first blood in the 14th minute, but Bruno Guimaraes missed a penalty. Norway held on and patiently waited for their chance, which came in the second half when Haaland scored a brace to send Brazil home. Neymar scored from a penalty after that, but it was too little, too late for Brazil.

Mexico

The furthest that Mexico have ever gone at a World Cup was quarter-finals and both times they achieved this feat they were hosting the tournament. This was a good omen for Mexico ahead of their meeting with England as the two teams were about to battle for a spot in the quarter-finals, as was the fact that Mexico never lost a World Cup game at Estadio Azteca.

However, England took a two-goal lead thanks to a brace by Jude Bellingham, but Julian Quinones gave Mexico with a goal just before half-time. Things started to look good for Mexico when Jarrel Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute, but then Mexico conceded a penalty just six minutes later, which Harry Kane turned into a goal and a 3-1 lead for the Three Lions.

Once again, Mexico hit back when Raul Jimenez scored in the 69th minute, but the hosts were unable to break the English defence once again until the end, despite England being a player down. In the end, some 80,000 Mexico fans at Estadio Azteca left the ground disappointed, while rare English fans had a great reason to celebrate.

Portugal

Portugal's World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking end after Mikel Merino's 91st minute winner sealed a narrow 1-0 victory for Spain, while also bringing Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career to a close. The last-16 tie in Dallas was confirmed to be Ronaldo's final appearance on football's biggest stage after the Portugal captain announced before the match that it would be his last World Cup.

Clear cut chances were few and far between, although Diogo Costa produced a heroic double save before half-time to keep the scores level after Nuno Mendes had struck the post for Roberto Martinez's side.

However, Portugal were made to pay for their missed opportunities as Merino's late strike sent Spain through to a quarter-final meeting with Belgium, who won their last-16 clash just a few hours later.

USA

The last of the three host nations still standing, the USA saw their World Cup campaign come to an emphatic end with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the last 16.

Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Rudi Garcia's side, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also found the net to send Belgium comfortably into the quarter-finals.

The build up to the match had been dominated by controversy after Folarin Balogun's suspension was overturned following intervention from President Donald Trump, allowing the USA's leading scorer to feature. However, the Monaco striker was unable to inspire a turnaround as the co-hosts bowed out of their home World Cup.

Other countries eliminated from the World Cup in Round of 16:

• Canada
• Paraguay
• Egypt
• Colombia

Which countries have been eliminated in the quarter-finals?

Morocco

France became the first side to reach the 2026 World Cup semi-finals after goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele sealed a 2-0 victory over Morocco.

Mbappe made amends for a saved penalty, which he had to wait more than three minutes to take, by curling a superb strike into the top corner just after the hour mark.

Ballon d'Or holder Dembele doubled France's lead six minutes later to confirm the Atlas Lions as the first nation to be knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

Ranked seventh in the FIFA World Rankings, Morocco offered little attacking threat and registered just one shot on target, arriving in the 83rd minute after the game had already slipped away.

Belgium

Mikel Merino emerged as Spain's super-sub hero once again, coming off the bench to score a dramatic 88th-minute winner and end Belgium's World Cup journey with a 2-1 defeat.

Rudi Garcia's side fell behind to Fabian Ruiz's first-half opener but responded well, with Charles De Ketelaere netting the first goal Spain had conceded in the tournament to bring things level just before the break.

The game looked destined for extra time until goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off through injury with just under 20 minutes remaining, handing Senne Lammens an unexpected introduction.

The change proved decisive as Lammens could only parry Pau Cubarsi's long-range effort into the path of Merino, who converted the rebound to book Spain's semi-final showdown with France.

Norway

Norway's World Cup dream came to a heartbreaking end as England fought back to secure a 2-1 extra-time victory and book their place in the semi-finals.

Andreas Schjelderup's superb first-half strike gave Stale Solbakken's side a deserved lead, while they also had what looked a legitimate second-half goal ruled out following a foul in the build-up.

Jude Bellingham's brace ultimately proved decisive for England, but Norway can take plenty of pride from a spirited performance that, on another day, could easily have earned them a place in the last four.

Switzerland

Switzerland became the final nation to exit the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals after suffering a 3-1 extra-time defeat to reigning champions Argentina.

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister gave Lionel Scaloni's side an early lead before Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye deservedly levelled with just over 20 minutes remaining to force an additional 30 minutes.

Julian Alvarez restored Argentina's advantage with a stunning long-range strike before Lautaro Martinez sealed victory in the 120th minute, setting up a mouthwatering semi-final against England.

Which countries have been eliminated in the semi-finals?

France

Tournament favourites France became the first side to fall at the semi-final stage after 2010 world champions Spain produced an impressive 2-0 victory to end Les Bleus' hopes of lifting the trophy.

Luis de la Fuente's side have now booked their place in the World Cup final, where they will face either Argentina or England, while France must remain in North America and prepare for Saturday's third-place playoff instead.

France's star-studded attack had been one of the standout stories of the tournament, but Spain kept them largely quiet and controlled the contest for long periods.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Pedro Porro wrapped up the win with a second goal in the 58th minute.

The defeat also means Didier Deschamps' remarkable spell in charge of France will not end with a second World Cup triumph.

England

It's not coming home! England's 2026 World Cup dream came to an end as Argentina fought back to secure a 2-1 victory and book their place in Sunday's final against Spain.

Thomas Tuchel's side took the lead early in the second half through Anthony Gordon, but instead of pushing for a second, they decided to sit back and invite more pressure from the reigning world champions.

Argentina eventually found their breakthrough when Enzo Fernandez fired past a helpless Jordan Pickford to level the scores in the 85th minute.

Just seven minutes later, Lionel Messi produced another moment of magic, delivering his second assist of the night as Lautaro Martínez lunged in to head home the winner and send Argentina into a second consecutive World Cup final.

England's tournament is not over just yet, they will face France in Saturday's third-place play-off.