The 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching the end of its group stage as the race for the knockout rounds gathers pace. With the tournament expanded to 48 teams for the first time, only 32 nations will progress to the next phase of football's biggest competition.
The new format sees the top two teams from each of the 12 groups automatically qualify for the knockout stage, while the eight best third-placed teams also advance. The knockout rounds will begin with the newly introduced Round of 32 before moving on to the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, the third-place playoff, and the final on July 19.
So far, 26 teams have officially booked their places in the knockout stage after strong performances during the group matches. Several debutant nations have also impressed fans by challenging more experienced sides and making history in their first World Cup appearances.
As the final group matches continue, the remaining qualification spots are still up for grabs, with several teams battling for automatic qualification or one of the best third-place positions. Football fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the start of the knockout rounds, where every match becomes a winner-takes-all contest in the race to become world champions.
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