Which Teams Are Still in the 2026 World Cup?

The race to the World Cup 2026 round of 16 is almost complete, with just three spots left to be decided. Spain, Switzerland, and Portugal secured their places after recent victories, while Austria, Algeria, and Croatia were eliminated following their knockout defeats.

This tournament marks the first with an expanded format featuring 48 teams, leading to an extra knockout round. From the initial group stage, 32 teams—comprising 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and the eight best third-place finishers—advanced to the knockout phase, the highest number ever to move beyond groups at a World Cup.

Now, that number will be halved as the round of 16 begins on Saturday. Here’s a breakdown of the teams still in contention as of Friday, 3 July:

The competition continues to intensify as these squads prepare to battle for a spot in the quarter-finals. Fans can stay updated and track every fixture with the Radio Times World Cup 2026 wall chart, available as a free download to keep all matches close at hand.