Emerging
Jun 23, 2026 Major4
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Six Teams Seal Round of 32 Spots at 2026 World Cup; Four Eliminated
Argentina, France, Norway, Germany, Mexico, and the United States have secured their spots in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland starred for their respective teams. Haiti, Tunisia, Turkey, and Jordan have been eliminated from the tournament.
Quick Facts
Who
Argentina
What
secured qualification for round of 32
When
2026-06-23
Where
Dallas (Texas, USA)
- secured qualification for round of 32
- eliminated from tournament
- scored two goals in match
- Argentina
- France
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage has taken clear shape, with six teams securing their places in the knockout rounds and four nations eliminated after the second round of group matches. Co-hosts Mexico and the United States were the first to advance, followed by Germany, Argentina, France, and Norway.
Argentina booked their spot in the round of 32 after a commanding 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas. Lionel Messi scored both goals, bringing his tournament tally to five and making him the World Cup's all-time leading scorer. The defending champions now top Group J with six points.
France and Norway also progressed from Group I, with France defeating Iraq 3-0 and Norway beating Senegal 3-2. Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France, while Erling Haaland netted a brace for Norway. Both teams have six points, and their final group match on June 27 will determine who finishes first in the group.
Mexico became the first team to qualify, topping Group A after wins over South Africa and Korea Republic. The United States followed with victories against Paraguay and Australia in Group D. Germany, which had not advanced past the group stage since winning the 2014 World Cup, booked their place as Group E winners after beating Curacao and Ivory Coast.
On the other hand, four teams have been eliminated: Haiti, Tunisia, Turkey, and Jordan all failed to secure enough points in their groups and can no longer advance to the knockout stage. Other groups remain wide open, with several nations still vying for the remaining knockout spots and the best third-place finisher positions.
Why This Matters
For football fans and analysts, the early qualification of major powers like Argentina, France, and Germany—and the elimination of several teams—shifts the tournament narrative and alters betting odds, group dynamics, and bracket predictions. Argentina's Messi becoming the all-time World Cup scorer adds a historic milestone worth tracking. The group stage outcomes will determine matchups in the knockout rounds, affecting fantasy teams and viewership schedules.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 23, 2026
WireArgentina defeats Austria 2-0; France defeats Iraq 3-0; Norway defeats Senegal 3-2; all three teams qualify for round of 32
Entities
Sources
- Which team is up 11 places and into the top 10? Re-ranking the 48 World Cup teams after day 12 - The AthleticThe New York TimesMediaJun 23, 2026
- Daftar Tim ke 32 Besar Piala Dunia 2026: Argentina, Prancis, Norwegia LolosdetiksportMediaJun 23, 2026
- 2026 World Cup: How teams can advance to the knockout roundsESPNMediaJun 23, 2026
- World Cup update: Six teams qualified for round of 32, four knocked outPunch NewspapersMediaJun 23, 2026