The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its official midpoint after 54 of 104 matches were completed by Wednesday, June 25. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has already seen 13 teams secure their places in the Round of 32, while seven nations have been eliminated. With 50 matches remaining before the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the competition is poised to intensify.
Knockout Stage Spots Clinched and Eliminations Confirmed
Group winners already through include Mexico (Group A), Switzerland (Group B), Brazil (Group C), the United States (Group D), Germany (Group E), and Argentina (Group J). France, Norway, Canada, Morocco, Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and South Africa have also advanced. South Africa clinched its first-ever knockout stage berth, prompting coach Hugo Broos to state, “I know how it feels, but it’s very difficult to explain how it feels. I’m very happy for the guys.”
Eliminated teams include the Czech Republic, Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar, and Panama. Twenty-eight teams are still vying for the 19 remaining Round of 32 spots, with critical matches ahead such as Australia vs. Paraguay (winner advances), Japan vs. Sweden, Austria vs. Algeria, and Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia. Colombia vs. Portugal will decide Group K’s winner.
Star Players Shine as Scoring Surges
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in their first two matches, raising his World Cup career total to 18 goals – an all-time record. France’s Kylian Mbappé has four goals in this tournament, giving him 16 in World Cups, tying Miroslav Klose for second-most all-time. Norway’s Erling Haaland and Brazil’s Vinicius Júnior also have four goals each.
Tournament scoring is at its highest per-game average in over 50 years, with 2.98 goals per match. A total of 161 goals have been scored through 54 matches, approaching the record of 172 set in 2022. The 1958 World Cup in Sweden averaged 3.60 goals per game, while the 1954 tournament in Switzerland holds the all-time average of 5.38 goals per match.
United States Path and Potential Rematch
The US will begin the Round of 32 in Santa Clara, California, on July 1. A win would send them to Seattle for the Round of 16, then to Inglewood, California, for the quarterfinals, and Arlington, Texas, for the semifinals. Their most likely Round of 32 opponent is Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Egypt potentially awaiting in the next round.
A potential rematch of the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France is possible, as the bracket currently places them on opposite sides. Messi’s Round of 32 match will be played in Miami Gardens, Florida, his home market since joining MLS in 2023. FIFA President Gianni Infantino told SNTV, “The best is yet to come,” signaling heightened drama as the knockout stage begins on Sunday, June 29, with South Africa vs. Canada in Los Angeles.
