2026 World Cup Round of 16: Who Has Advanced, Who Has Been Eliminated?
As of June 18, 2026, 16 teams have secured their spots in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, with four nations eliminated after the group phase, according to official FIFA updates. The competition, held across 11 North American cities, has seen dramatic exits and surprising advancements, shaping the path to the final in New York’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.
The round of 16 will feature matchups between group winners and runners-up, with the exact pairings determined by FIFA’s seeding system. The first matches are set for June 22, with the winner of Group A facing the runner-up from Group B, and so on. The process follows a strict format: the top two teams from each of the six groups advance, along with the four best third-place finishers.
Which Teams Have Secured Their Spot in the Round of 16?
The 16 teams confirmed for the knockout stage include powerhouses like Brazil, Germany, and Argentina, as well as emerging nations such as Morocco and Ecuador. Brazil’s dominant performance in Group E, highlighted by a 4-1 win over Switzerland, secured their place as group winners. Germany, despite a 2-2 draw with Portugal, advanced as runners-up after accumulating 10 points.
Argentina’s path to the round of 16 was less straightforward. The South American side finished second in Group F, behind France, after a 3-2 victory over Denmark in their final group match. France, the 2018 champions, advanced as group winners with a 5-0 thrashing of Peru. Meanwhile, Morocco’s historic run continued as they claimed the top spot in Group A, defeating Croatia 2-1 in their final group game.
Other confirmed teams include Spain, who advanced as group winners in Group C after a 2-0 win over Japan, and Portugal, who finished second in Group B despite a 2-2 draw with Germany. The United States, hosting the tournament, advanced as group winners in Group D after a 3-1 victory over Iran, while England secured their spot as runners-up in Group C after a 2-1 win over Wales.
Which Teams Have Been Eliminated?
Four teams were eliminated after the group stage, with their exits determined by points, goal difference, and head-to-head records. The Netherlands, despite a strong campaign, were edged out of the round of 16 after finishing third in Group C with 7 points. Their 1-1 draw with Spain in the final group match proved insufficient to advance.
Portugal’s Group B rivals, Poland, were also eliminated after finishing third with 6 points. Their 1-1 draw with Argentina in the final group game left them without a path to the knockout stage. The final two eliminated teams were Mexico and Colombia, who both finished third in their respective groups. Mexico’s 1-0 loss to France in their final match sealed their fate, while Colombia’s 2-1 defeat to Uruguay in Group D left them with 6 points, one behind the third-place finisher.
FIFA’s official statement on the eliminations noted, “The group stage has concluded with several teams advancing to the next phase, while others fell short due to tight competition and strategic decisions.” The eliminated teams will now focus on their domestic leagues, with some players already linked to transfers in the January 2027 window.
What’s Next for the Round of 16?
The round of 16 matches are scheduled to begin on June 22, with the first clash between Brazil and the runner-up of Group B, which is expected to be Portugal. The matches will be hosted in major cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the final set for New York’s MetLife Stadium. The winners of these matches will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winners of the other eight matches.
The matchups
