How the 2026 World Cup last 32 line up: the 32 qualifiers and every tie

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup has come down, and we now know the 32 teams that will contest the round of 32. At this 48-team World Cup staged by the United States, Mexico and Canada, the twelve group winners, twelve runners-up and eight best third-placed teams go through. The knockout stage starts on 28 June and runs until the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium.

Three teams ended the first phase with perfect records and nine points: Mexico, who dominated Group A without conceding; France, unstoppable in Group I with a stellar Dembélé; and Argentina, who swept Group J with Messi decisive once again. The list of group winners is completed by Switzerland (B), Brazil (C), the United States (D), Germany (E), the Netherlands (F), Belgium (G), Spain (H), Colombia (K) and England (L).

The race for the eight best-third spots produced notable stories. DR Congo, Sweden, Ecuador, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Paraguay and Senegal qualified, while Iran, South Korea, Scotland and Uruguay fell just short. The biggest surprise came from Cabo Verde, who on their first-ever World Cup appearance not only debuted but reached the last 32 as Group H runners-up. The most painful exit was Uruguay's: Marcelo Bielsa's side lost 1-0 to Spain and bowed out as a third-placed team.

Among the scorers, Lionel Messi stands alone at the top. The Argentine captain has six goals after scoring against Jordan on the final matchday, two clear of his pursuers. Behind him, on four, are France's Kylian Mbappé — who also has two assists — his compatriot Ousmane Dembélé, Brazil's Vinicius Junior and Norway's Erling Haaland. The fight for the Golden Boot promises to intensify in the knockouts.

The last-32 bracket throws up some high-voltage ties. The standouts include Germany-Paraguay, Spain-Austria, Brazil-Japan and Argentina-Cabo Verde, as well as France-Sweden and Mexico-Ecuador. The sixteen ties are: Mexico-Ecuador, Switzerland-Algeria, Brazil-Japan, United States-Bosnia, Germany-Paraguay, Netherlands-Morocco, Belgium-Senegal, Spain-Austria, France-Sweden, Argentina-Cabo Verde, Colombia-Ghana, England-DR Congo, Portugal-Croatia, Australia-Egypt, South Africa-Canada and Ivory Coast-Norway.

With the major favourites — Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, England and Germany — already installed in the decisive phase, the 2026 World Cup enters its most thrilling stretch: single-elimination football, where one mistake is costly and there is no way back. You can follow the full bracket and how it unfolds on our knockout page.