Mexico, USA, Germany Clinch World Cup 2026 Knockouts as Format Takes Shape

The World Cup 2026 knockout phase will include the top two finishers from each of 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed teams, with the Round of 32 running from June 28 to July 3. This edition uses head-to-head tiebreakers for group-stage ties, and eventually progresses to the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semis, and the July 19 final. As of June 21, Mexico (Group A), USA (Group D), and Germany (Group E) have qualified for the knockout stage, while Haiti (Group C) and Turkiye (Group D) have been eliminated.