The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its halfway stage, with the knockout picture beginning to take shape as teams battle for a place in the Round of 32.
A total of 54 of the tournament's 104 matches have been played, leaving 50 games before the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July. With qualification spots on the line and several football giants already through, attention is turning to the paths that could lead contenders to the trophy.
Goals have flowed freely throughout the tournament. The opening 54 matches have produced 161 goals, an average of 2.98 per game — the highest scoring rate at a World Cup in more than 50 years. If the trend continues, the tournament is on course to surpass the record 172 goals scored at Qatar 2022.
Crowds have also reached record levels, while several memorable stories have emerged, including Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha playing in front of his mother. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said earlier this week that the best of the tournament was still to come.
By Wednesday, 13 teams had secured places in the Round of 32. Group winners included Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, the United States, Germany and Argentina. France, Norway, Canada, Morocco, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa also advanced.
South Africa's qualification marked a historic achievement, with coach Hugo Broos guiding the country into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time.
Seven nations have already been eliminated. The Czech Republic, Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar and Panama are out of the tournament, while 28 teams remain in contention for the final 19 knockout places.
Several decisive group-stage matches are still to be played. Australia face Paraguay, Japan meet Sweden and Cape Verde could reach the knockout stage for the first time with victory over Saudi Arabia. Colombia and Portugal will also contest top spot in Group K.
All three co-hosts have progressed. Canada will face South Africa in the Round of 32, while the United States, winners of Group D, will meet a third-placed team from groups B, E, F, I or J. The Americans will begin their knockout campaign in Santa Clara, California, on 1 July and are currently expected to face Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If the United States continue their run, they would play in Seattle in the Round of 16, Inglewood in the quarter-finals and Arlington, Texas, in the semi-finals. Mexico, who topped Group A, will face a third-placed qualifier from groups C, E, F, H or I.
Among the traditional contenders, Germany and Switzerland have both advanced. Germany will play a third-placed team from groups A, B, C, D or F, while Switzerland will face a qualifier from groups E, F, G, I or J.
Brazil won Group C and will meet the runners-up from Group F. Morocco, who finished second in the same group, will take on the winners of Group F.
The tournament bracket has also left open the possibility of another meeting between Argentina and France, finalists in 2022. The two sides are currently positioned on opposite halves of the draw and could only meet again in the final.
Once the group stage concludes on Thursday, the competition will move into a straight knockout format. Teams will need to win five consecutive matches to become world champions, while the losing semi-finalists will contest the third-place play-off.
Several of football’s biggest stars have already made their mark. Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of his country's goals and increased his World Cup tally to 18. France forward Kylian Mbappé, Norway striker Erling Haaland and Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior have each scored four goals.
Mbappé's four goals have taken his overall World Cup total to 16, drawing level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose for the second-highest scoring tally in tournament history.
The final knockout pairings will be confirmed once the remaining group-stage matches are completed, setting the stage for a series of winner-takes-all encounters as the tournament enters its decisive phase.
