- The 2026 World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 nations, organised into 12 groups of four teams.
- The knockout stages will comprise the 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and the eight best third-placed teams.
- Seven teams had already secured their spot in the knockout rounds by winning both of their initial matches - and now more have qualified following the third round of games in several of the groups.
- Conversely, several teams have been eliminated from the tournament after suffering defeats in both of their opening fixtures.
- Teams that have qualified for the knockout stages are as follows: Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Australia, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, France, Norway, Argentina, and Colombia.
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