World Cup 2026 Knockout Round: Teams Securing Spots So Far

The second week of the 2026 World Cup is underway, and some teams are already locking in their places for the knockout stage. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, the knockout round now starts with a Round of 32 instead of the usual Round of 16.

This means not only the top two teams from each group move on but also the eight best third-place teams. We’re keeping an eye on those third-place standings for any surprises as the group phase progresses.

Mexico Leads Group A

Mexico was the first team to secure a spot in the Round of 32 after a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea on Thursday night. They kicked off their World Cup run with a solid 2-0 win against South Africa. Earlier that day, South Africa and Czechia drew 1-1, which meant the winner of Mexico versus South Korea would top Group A.

The breakthrough came after a goalless first half when Luis Romo capitalized on a mistake by South Korea's goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who collided with a teammate and lost control of the ball inside the box, allowing Romo to score.

Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel then became the hero, making two crucial saves late in the game to keep South Korea from equalizing:

As Group A winners, El Tri will face a third-place team from one of Groups C, E, F, H, or I. Their Round of 32 match will be held in Mexico City, so they’ll remain on home soil for their next challenge.