World Cup 2026: Mexico and USA reach the knockouts

The 2026 World Cup knockout stage is taking shape, with hosts Mexico and the United States the first teams confirmed for the round of 32 at the expanded 48-nation tournament.

The milestone matters because it is the first World Cup with 48 teams and a new round of 32, a format that changes the maths of qualifying and gives more nations — including a record African contingent — a route into the knockouts. This story is part of Kwacha News’s continuing sport and entertainment coverage.

Mexico booked the first knockout place with a 1-0 win over South Korea on 18 June. The United States followed a day later, beating Australia 2-0 in Group D to advance with a group game to spare, even without its injured first-choice attacker.

How the new format works

The tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, fields 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, go through — 32 in all — to a new round that did not exist at previous World Cups.

That extra round stretches the tournament and rewards consistency. A team can now reach the knockouts as one of the better third-placed sides, which keeps more nations alive deeper into the group stage and raises the stakes of every goal difference.

I was saying yesterday, Argentina has amazing fans, but I think we are matching Argentina.

— Mauricio Pochettino, United States head coach, after the win over Australia

Why it matters

For African football, the expanded format is an opening. Kwacha News reported that Africa sent a record nine teams to the 2026 finals, and more group places plus the third-place route give those teams a better chance of reaching the knockouts than the old 32-team draw allowed.

The host nations have used home advantage. Mexico and the United States both progressed early, playing in familiar stadiums in front of home crowds — an edge that the third co-host, Canada, will hope to match. Crowd noise and short travel are real factors in a tournament spread across a continent.

Among the African contenders, Morocco — semi-finalists in 2022 — have caught the eye, beating Scotland 1-0 with what was logged as the fastest goal of the 2026 tournament so far. The Atlas Lions are one of the record nine African teams in the finals, and how far they and the others go will shape the continent’s verdict on the bigger draw. For now, the group stage is still sorting contenders from also-rans.

For Zambian fans, the Chipolopolo are not at this World Cup, but the African teams that are carry the continent’s hopes. Kwacha News has followed the African and southern-African storylines, from Bafana Bafana holding Czechia to Cape Verde’s historic debut point against Spain.

Background — a bigger tournament

The 2026 finals are the largest in history. Expanding from 32 teams to 48 added 16 more nations and a new knockout round, a change FIFA framed as widening access to the game’s biggest stage. Kwacha News explained the football rules that change at the 2026 World Cup.

The early matches have already produced upsets and farewells. Haiti went out after defeats to Scotland and Brazil, and Turkey were knocked out following a loss to Paraguay — proof that the expanded field has not made the group stage any softer for the bigger names.

Star power remains a draw. The tournament has featured milestone moments, including Lionel Messi’s hat-trick on a record sixth World Cup, as a generation of established players meets the new format.

What to watch

The first thing to watch is the African teams. With group matches still being played, how many of the record nine reach the round of 32 will measure whether the bigger tournament really helps the continent.

The second is the third-place race. The eight best third-placed teams qualify, so the fight to be a “best loser” will run to the final group games.

The third is the knockouts themselves. The round of 32 begins on 28 June, the point at which the expanded group stage gives way to straight elimination and the tournament’s real pressure begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions readers have been asking about the 2026 World Cup knockouts. Short answers follow, drawn from the tournament results and format.

What is the World Cup round of 32?

In short, it is the new first knockout round at the 48-team World Cup. The answer, simply put, is that 32 teams advance from the groups into straight elimination. The key is that it did not exist at the old 32-team tournament.

How does qualification from the groups work?

The answer is by finishing high in your group. Data on the format shows the top two from each of the 12 groups qualify, plus the eight best third-placed teams, making 32 in total.

Why is the 2026 format different?

Simply put, the tournament grew from 32 teams to 48. Analysis shows the expansion added 16 nations and a new round of 32, which FIFA says widens access to the World Cup.

What are the host nations?

According to FIFA, the 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Evidence from the early rounds shows the host sides have used home advantage, with Mexico and the United States qualifying first.

Which teams have qualified so far?

Research of the results shows hosts Mexico and the United States were the first teams into the round of 32, after wins over South Korea and Australia respectively, with other places still being decided.

Sources

Al Jazeera: which teams have qualified for the World Cup 2026 knockouts. Kwacha News coverage: Africa’s record nine teams, Bafana hold Czechia and the 2026 rule changes.