The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is reaching its climax, and after weeks of drama across the United States, the knockout picture is rapidly taking shape. Twenty-eight nations have already punched their tickets to the last 32, with a handful of spots still to be decided as the final group matches get underway today.
Every team that has qualified so far
The confirmed qualifiers heading into the final round of group games are Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, the United States, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, France, Norway, Argentina, Colombia, Australia, England, Ghana, Egypt, Paraguay, Spain, Belgium, Senegal, Cape Verde and Portugal. That brings the total to 28, with four remaining places still up for grabs as the last groups complete their schedules.
In terms of continental representation, Europe leads the way with 11 teams through, followed by seven from Africa, five from South America, three from North and Central America, one from Asia and Australia rounding out the field.
England’s push for top spot in Group L
England enter their final group match knowing the knockout round is already secured but with the group standings still very much unresolved. Thomas Tuchel’s side face Panama at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford at 22:00 BST, having won their opener 4-2 against Croatia in Dallas before being held to a goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday.
England currently sit level on four points with Ghana, separated only by goal difference. A victory over Panama would strengthen their position considerably, while Ghana face Croatia in a simultaneous kickoff. If both England and Ghana win, the final standings will be determined by goal difference. If both games end in draws, England top the group. Should goal difference remain equal, the tiebreaker falls to disciplinary record, where England currently hold an advantage. Panama, yet to score in the tournament, have already been eliminated from contention.
Opta currently rate England as the fourth most likely team to win the tournament outright, with an 8.73% probability. France lead the field at 16.08%, followed by Argentina at 15.73% and Spain at 13.1%.
England will wear red for today’s match, their first appearance in their away strip at a major tournament in nearly 3,000 days. The last time they wore red at either a World Cup or European Championship was the third-place playoff against Belgium at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a game they lost 2-0.
Portugal need a win to lead Group K
In Group K, Portugal face Colombia in Miami knowing that only a victory will allow them to overtake the South Americans and claim top spot. Colombia currently lead the group and have already qualified. A Portugal win would see them leapfrog into first place, which carries significant implications for the knockout draw, as the group winner avoids one of the stronger runners-up in the next round.
Both England and Portugal have delivered inconsistent performances through the first two rounds, alternating between genuinely impressive moments and labored showings that have left questions about their capacity to go deep into the tournament unanswered.
The final 4 spots still to be decided
In Group J, Austria and Algeria are both on three points and face each other Sunday, with one guaranteed to advance automatically and the other potentially surviving as a best third-placed team. Argentina have already topped the group and will face Cape Verde in the last 32. Jordan have been eliminated.
The overall shape of the last 32 draw will become clearer once today’s and Sunday’s final group matches conclude, setting up what promises to be a compelling knockout stage with several of the world’s strongest national teams converging on the same bracket for the first time.