By Boluwatife Oshadiya, Sports Correspondent | June 28, 2026
Key Points
- Sixteen countries have been eliminated following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage
- Africa recorded a strong performance, with nine of its 10 representatives progressing to the Round of 32
- The knockout stage begins on June 28 as 32 teams continue their quest for the FIFA World Cup title
Main Story
The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially concluded, with 16 nations eliminated from the tournament after failing to secure qualification for the newly introduced Round of 32.
Among the notable exits are Tunisia, Uruguay, Türkiye, Korea Republic and Scotland, all of whom entered the tournament with high expectations but fell short of progressing. Tournament debutants Uzbekistan and Curaçao also bowed out despite producing encouraging performances in their maiden World Cup appearances.
Africa emerged as one of the standout continents during the group phase, with nine of its 10 participating nations advancing to the knockout rounds. Tunisia was the continent’s only casualty after finishing at the bottom of Group F without recording a point.
The countries eliminated after the group stage are Haiti, Tunisia, Türkiye, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, Czechia, Curaçao, Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Scotland, Uzbekistan, Korea Republic and IR Iran.
Several teams exited the competition despite impressive displays. Scotland finished third in Group C but narrowly missed qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. IR Iran remained unbeaten throughout the group stage with three consecutive draws but failed to accumulate enough points to progress under the tournament’s qualification format.
Uruguay, two-time world champions and regular knockout-stage participants, endured one of the tournament’s biggest disappointments after finishing third in Group H with just two points. Korea Republic also suffered elimination after placing behind Mexico and South Africa in Group A.
The expanded 48-team World Cup has introduced a Round of 32 for the first time, increasing opportunities for nations to reach the knockout stage while also making qualification more competitive across all groups.
What’s Being Said
FIFA described the conclusion of the group stage as the beginning of a new phase of the tournament, with every remaining match becoming a straight knockout contest.
Football analysts have also pointed to Africa’s impressive representation in the Round of 32 as one of the defining stories of the competition, highlighting the continent’s growing competitiveness on the global stage.
What’s Next
- The Round of 32 begins on June 28 across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- Winners will advance to the Round of 16, while defeated teams will be eliminated from the tournament.
- The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The Bottom Line: The expanded FIFA World Cup has already produced several surprise eliminations and historic achievements. With the knockout phase underway, every remaining fixture becomes decisive as nations compete for football’s biggest prize.
