← Back to News
World Cup 2026: Routes to the final
Teams
F
FIFA Official·about 20 hours ago

World Cup 2026: Routes to the final

The tournament co-hosts will qualify on 18 June as Group A winners - and meet a third-placed team from Groups C, E, F, H or I in the Round of 32 in Mexico City on 30 June - if:

They defeat Korea Republic, and Czechia do not beat South Africa.

After victory over Czechia in their opening match, Hong Myungbo's men will qualify as Group A winners if:

They defeat Mexico, and South Africa do not beat Czechia.

The 2010 hosts were beaten by Mexico first time out and will be eliminated if:

They lose to Czechia, and Korea Republic avoid defeat against Mexico.

Veteran coach Miroslav Koubek knows his side will be knocked out if:

They lose to South Africa, and Mexico avoid defeat against Korea Republic.

After Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar v Switzerland ended in the same scoreline, none of the four teams can secure qualification, or be eliminated, in their second match.

Taking a minimum of four points from their next two games will guarantee a place in the Round of 32 as either group winners or runners-up.

Steve Clarke's side will clinch qualification for the knockout phase as one of the top two teams if:

They can progress as group winners, and set up a Round of 32 game with the runners-up from Group F in Houston on 29 June, if:

They defeat Morocco, and Brazil do not beat Haiti.

After losing to Scotland in their first fixture, the Concacaf outfit will be eliminated if:

They lose to Brazil, and Morocco beat Scotland.

The co-hosts will clinch qualification for the knockout phase as Group D winners, and set up a meeting with a third-placed team from Groups B, E, F, I or J in the Round of 32 in San Francisco on 1 July, if:

They defeat Australia, and Türkiye do not beat Paraguay.

The Socceroos defeated Türkiye in their first match and will secure top spot in the group if:

They defeat USA, and Paraguay do not beat Türkiye.

After losing to USA in their first game, the South American side will be eliminated if:

They lose to Türkiye, and Australia avoid defeat against USA.

Vincenzo Montella's side know they will be eliminated if:

They lose to Paraguay, and USA avoid defeat against Australia.

Information on Groups C-L will follow after all teams in the group have played one match.

Sources: FIFA Official

Related Articles

Top 100 Players In The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ranked
Players

Top 100 Players In The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ranked

The best players in the world will be on display this summer at the 2026 World Cup . So, let’s rank them.

F
Fox Sports·about 1 month ago
Cape Verde shock Spain with historic draw on World Cup debut
Teams

Cape Verde shock Spain with historic draw on World Cup debut

Wow, just wow. At 1.57pm, Atlanta time, 3,291 miles from home, the final whistle went on Cape Verde’s first World Cup game, and they had only gone and done it and what they had done was madness – they had only gone and held the favourites. Bubista ha

A
Aggregated from The Guardian, Sky Sports·in about 4 hours
'He's the story' - Vozinha's goalkeeping heroics thwart Spain
History

'He's the story' - Vozinha's goalkeeping heroics thwart Spain

Watch Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produce a masterclass in goalkeeping to help his team record a 0-0 draw again Spain in their Group H fixture at the 2026 World Cup.

B
BBC Sport·in about 4 hours
‘It makes it like home’: inside England’s exclusive four-star Kansas City inn
Venue

‘It makes it like home’: inside England’s exclusive four-star Kansas City inn

FA opted for World Cup base camp in city Thomas Tuchel’s side have no group matches in but have emphasised home comforts for players to feel at ease The first thing to say about England in Kansas City is that the locals seem genuinely delighted to ha

T
The Guardian·in about 4 hours
Heroic Cabo Verde clinch draw with Spain
Teams

Heroic Cabo Verde clinch draw with Spain

debutants Cabo Verde produced an extraordinary performance to secure a 0-0 draw with global heavyweights Spain.

F
FIFA Official·in about 4 hours
Cape Verde hold Spain in one of World Cup's biggest shocks
History

Cape Verde hold Spain in one of World Cup's biggest shocks

Cape Verde pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as the African debutants held tournament favourites Spain to a goalless draw in Atlanta.

S
Sky Sports·in about 4 hours