FIFA World Cup 2026, featuring 48 teams, is moving into the knockout phase after multiple early departures. Several sources report that five nations are eliminated after just two group matches: Turkey, Haiti, Tunisia, Panama and Jordan. Other coverage also notes that Haiti and Turkey are among the first teams to be mathematically eliminated following consecutive group-stage defeats, with Haiti placed at zero points after losing to Brazil. Additional reporting places other countries among those eliminated from the tournament earlier in the competition, indicating that a total of 16 teams are already out before the Round of 32 fixtures begin.
As the tournament progresses, group qualification determines the knockout lineup. According to the reports, the Round of 32 is set to include the top two teams from each group plus the best eight third-placed teams, while the Round of 16 follows as the winners advance and the losers exit under single-elimination rules. At least four teams are said to have already advanced beyond the Round of 32, while four others—South Africa, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands—are reported eliminated at that stage.
