The entire world was eagerly looking forward to Qatar 2022, and the tournament has so far delivered. The FIFA World Cup group stage has already given us reasons to be hyped, with a number of upsets and eventful thrillers.
While the first matchday included shocking defeats from title contenders, the second round of group stage play had some nail-biting and dramatic games. Meanwhile, the knockout phase bracket starts to take shape.
France became the first team to book a ticket to the round of 16, breaking the “curse of the champion” in the process. Let’s take a look at how many nations qualify for the next stage of the World Cup.
How many teams qualify for the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup?
As the name suggests, 16 teams qualify for the round of 16of the 2022 World Cup. The top two teams in each group seal a place in the knockout stage, which has a one-legged playoff format.
Which teams do you think will join France in the knockout round of Qatar 2022?Using this World Cup Predictor, you can see every potential outcome of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.
