World Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified for the last 32 and who could they face?

The 2026 World Cup has kicked off in spectacular fashion, serving up a series of historic shocks that will be debated for years. As the group games nears its conclusion, the knockout picture is rapidly coming into focus.

The top two nations the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed sides, book their knockout berth.

The round of 32 gets underway on June 28 and unfolds across a breathless week, wrapping up on July 3. Once the tournament shifts to win-or-go-home mode, anything can happen.

Discover who has booked their ticket and who is heading home as the planet’s biggest sporting event enters its do-or-die phase.

Which teams have qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds?

Mexico (Group A)

Mexico not only got the tournament underway on home soil, but were also the first team to book their spot in the knockouts. The World Cup co-hosts kicked off Group A in style. El Tri comfortably beat South Africa 2-0 at Estadio Azteca, before edging past dark horses South Korea with a 1-0 victory.

USA (Group D)

In a fitting scenario as co-hosts, the United States of America were the second team to secure a knockout berth. After two games in Group D, beating Paraguay and Australia 4-1 and 2-0 respectively, the Stars and Stripes have all but confirmed their standing as group winners.

Germany (Group E)

Germany became the third team to seal their knockout spot – for the first time since 2014 – after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto in their penultimate Group E outing. Earlier, they had subjected tournament debutants Curacao to a 7-1 thrashing, the biggest win so far. They are the first European nation to progress.

Who will each team face in the World Cup knockout rounds

Mexico

Fortunately for El Tri, they will play their next match in Mexico City on June 30, against a third-placed side.

Their list of potential opponents are:

Group C: Brazil, Scotland, Morocco, or Haiti

Group E: Ivory Coast, Ecuador or Curacao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan or Sweden

Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay or Cape Verde

Group I: Norway, France, Senegal or Iraq

USA

The Stars and Stripes will also play a third-placed team in their last 32 fixture in Santa Clara, California on July 1.

Their list of potential opponents are:

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Qatar

Group E: Ivory Coast, Ecuador or Curacao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan or Sweden

Group I: Norway, France, Senegal or Iraq

Group J: Argentina, Austria, Jordan or Algeria

Germany

Like the above two co-hosts, Die Mannschaft will also face a third-placed team at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on 28 June.

Their list of potential opponents are:

Group A: South Korea, South Africa or Czech Republic

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Qatar

Group C: Brazil, Scotland, Morocco, or Haiti

Group D: Australia, or Paraguay

Group F: Netherlands, Japan or Sweden

Which teams could be next to qualify for the World Cup knockout rounds?

Many names are set to join the aforementioned three teams in the last 32 knockout bracket.

However, as it stands, Group I, the group of death, could be the next to see teams go through. France and Norway could follow suit if they win against Iraq and Senegal respectively on Monday, June 22.