The battle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has begun to take shape, with the first round of group matches confirming early qualifiers and eliminations under the expanded format.

The United States and Mexico are the first teams to confirm their positions in the round of 32, while Haiti and Turkey have already been eliminated for failing to score enough points in their first two games.

The competition, which has grown to 48 nations, is being played in a new format that includes a round of 32 for the first time in World Cup history.

The development has hastened the qualification process, with numerous sides already securing promotion before the final group matches are played.

Mexico completed their qualification with a close 1-0 victory over South Korea, adding to their initial 2-0 triumph over South Africa.

The results ensured six points from two matches, securing their position in the knockout rounds with one group game remaining.

The United States also had a promising start to their campaign. After a convincing 4-1 victory against Paraguay in their first match, they followed it up with a 2-0 triumph over Australia, ensuring their progression from Group D.

Under FIFA’s revamped format, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups advance automatically, as do the eight best third-placed teams.

The round of 32 will run from June 28 to July 3, followed by the round of 16 and following knockout rounds, culminating in the final on July 19.

While some clubs have already secured their spots in the next round, others have had their campaigns end prematurely.

Haiti was the first to be eliminated, losing 3-0 to Brazil after previously losing 1-0 to Scotland. Turkiye was the next team to quit the competition, losing 1-0 to Paraguay after losing 2-0 to Australia the previous round.

After two matches, both teams were left with no points, making it impossible for them to meet the qualification criteria under the new format.

With group matches still underway, more teams are anticipated to secure their progression or exit in the following days.