World Cup 2026 Qualification Round-Up: Who's Through, Who's Out, Who's Fighting

As the qualification rounds for the World Cup 2026 draw to a close, a total of 32 teams have now confirmed their spots in the Round of 32. In contrast, 13 teams have been eliminated from the tournament, leaving only a handful of uncertainties as the final matches unfold. The qualification process has witnessed fierce competition and varying degrees of success across the groups, shaping an intriguing landscape leading into the World Cup.

Confirmed qualification includes the following teams and their points: Mexico (9 pts), South Africa (4 pts), Switzerland (7 pts), Canada (4 pts), Bosnia & Herzegovina (4 pts), Brazil (7 pts), Morocco (7 pts), USA (6 pts), Australia (4 pts), Paraguay (4 pts), Germany (6 pts), Ivory Coast (6 pts), Ecuador (4 pts), Netherlands (7 pts), Japan (5 pts), Sweden (4 pts), Belgium (5 pts), Egypt (5 pts), Spain (7 pts), Cape Verde Islands (3 pts), France (9 pts), Norway (6 pts), Senegal (3 pts), Argentina (9 pts), Austria (4 pts), Algeria (4 pts), Colombia (7 pts), Portugal (5 pts), Congo DR (4 pts), England (7 pts), Croatia (6 pts), and Ghana (4 pts). These teams have successfully navigated the qualification process and will embark on their World Cup journey.

Close qualification races can be observed in several groups where the margins are slim. In Group D and Group E, for instance, teams are jostling for position with only 1-2 points separating them. Group D sees Australia, Paraguay, and the USA occupy space where mere points differentiate their standing, while in Group E, a similar scenario unfolds with Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Germany all vying for placement, signifying the intensity of competition even among teams with identical point tallies.

On the flip side, several teams have already been eliminated from contention for the World Cup. Notable mentions include South Korea and Czechia from Group A, both finishing with 3 and 1 points respectively, while in Group B Qatar, with just 1 point, is also out of the running. Other eliminated teams include Haiti and Scotland from Group C, Türkiye from Group D, Curaçao from Group E, Tunisia from Group F, Iran and New Zealand from Group G, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia from Group H, along with Iraq, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, who each finished the qualification with 0 points.

As the qualification rounds near completion, the upcoming matches will determine the final qualification picture. The groups have concluded their matches with no further actions remaining, confirming all qualifying teams; therefore, there will be no additional matches that can potentially alter standings or qualifications. The groups are now set, preparing for the next phase of the World Cup competition with all 32 qualified teams ready for the challenge ahead.