The 2026 World Cup finals are now becoming a lot clearer when it comes to the identity of the final 32 teams in the knockout stages.
This is the position with now 66 of the 72 group matches having been played so far.
Saturday (27 June 2026) morning we have…
There are 28 teams definitely through to the last 32.
There are 12 teams definitely eliminated.
There are eight teams that could still potentially fill the final four places in the last 32.
DEFINITELY QUALIFIED FOR LAST 32
Colombia
Argentina
France
Norway
Germany
USA
Mexico
Switzerland
Canada
Brazil
Morocco
South Africa
Ivory Coast
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ecuador
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Australia
Spain
Cape Verde
Paraguay
Egypt
England
Ghana
Portugal
Belgium
Senegal
ALREADY ELIMINATED
Czech Republic
Qatar
Haiti
Turkey
Curacao
Tunisia
New Zealand
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Jordan
Panama
COULD STILL QUALIFY FOR LAST 32
So with 28 places filled, four more teams still need to be confirmed in the last 32 of these World Cup finals.
Nine of the twelve groups are decided, so nine of the third place teams are knows.
Five of them (Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Paraguay and Senegal) are definitely in the last 32 and included in the list of 28 above. Uruguay are the only confirmed third place team who are definitely eliminated.
The other three groups that have concluded see this trio of third placed teams awaiting their fate, the percentage chance (as per The Athletic)
92% Iran
44% South Korea
(less than 1%) Scotland
The five other clubs who could potentially go through to the last 32 and still have one more game to play, they are Algeria, Austria, Croatia, DR Congo and Uzbekistan.
In reality then, when it comes down to which of the eight will fill the four remaining vacancies…
Uzbekistan and Scotland stand next to no chance.
So it is between Iran, South Korea, Algeria, Austria, Croatia and DR Congo, four from the six to progress to the last 32.