What were the results of the World Cup group stage?
The 2026 World Cup group stage is complete, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout round and 16 teams eliminated. It featured 72 games and 215 goals, which works out to 2.99 goals per game, the highest rate since 1958.
What the results looked like
Here’s the overall picture from the final group standings:
| Group | Winners | Runners-up | Notable third place | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Mexico | South Africa | South Korea | Czechia |
| B | Switzerland | Canada | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Qatar |
| C | Brazil | Morocco | Scotland | Haiti |
| D | USA | Australia | Paraguay | Turkiye |
| E | Germany | Ivory Coast | Ecuador | Curacao |
| F | Netherlands | Japan | Sweden | Tunisia |
| G | Belgium | Egypt | Iran | New Zealand |
| H | Spain | Cape Verde | Uruguay | Saudi Arabia |
Knockout picture
The tournament moved into the Round of 32 after the group stage, with the top two teams from each group plus the best third-place finishers advancing. Reports said nine African teams reached the knockout phase, which was being described as a historic showing for the continent.
Notable context
A few storylines stood out from the group phase: some traditional powers advanced comfortably, while several surprise teams survived on points or goal difference. The wider group stage was also unusually high-scoring, which helped create a fast, chaotic tournament feel.
TL;DR
The group stage ended with Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain topping their groups, while 32 teams moved on to the knockout round and 16 were eliminated.