World Cup 2026 Knockout Round: Teams That Have Secured Advancement

Who Has Made It to the Knockout Stage at the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is underway, and as teams enter their second group matches, some have already secured spots in the knockout phase.

This tournament sees a new format with 48 teams, meaning the knockout stage kicks off with a Round of 32 instead of the usual Round of 16. Beyond the top two teams from each group advancing, the eight best third-place teams also move on. We are monitoring those third-place rankings closely for any surprises.

Mexico Leads Group A Into Knockouts

Mexico was the first to confirm qualification for the Round of 32 after a narrow 1-0 win against South Korea on Thursday night. They started strong with a 2-0 victory over South Africa. Earlier, South Africa and Czechia drew 1-1, which meant the winner of Mexico’s match would top Group A.

The first half saw no goals, but early in the second, Luis Romo capitalized on a mistake by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who collided with a teammate inside the box and lost control of the ball. Romo seized the opportunity to put Mexico ahead.

Later, Mexico’s goalkeeper Raúl Rangel made crucial saves near the end to preserve the clean sheet and secure the victory:

"El Tri's keeper denied multiple attempts from South Korea in the final minutes, keeping Mexico’s hopes alive."

Mexico will face one of the third-place finishers from Groups C, E, F, H, or I in the Round of 32. Their next match will remain on home soil, played in Mexico City, giving them a home advantage as they push deeper into the tournament.