The national teams that finished in first and second place, along with the eight best third-place finishers from the groups, secured a spot in the next phase, which begins on Sunday, June 28, and concludes on Friday, July 3.

Mexico and the United States, two of the tournament hosts, were the first to accomplish the objective after securing a perfect record of victories across their opening two matchdays.

Here is the complete list of qualified teams:

1. Mexico – 1st Group A
2. Switzerland – 1st Group B
3. Brazil – 1st Group C
4. United States – 1st Group D
5. Germany – 1st Group E
6. Netherlands – 1st Group F
7. Belgium – 1st Group G
8. Spain – 1st Group H
9. France – 1st Group I
10. Argentina – 1st Group J
11. Colombia – 1st Group K
12. England – 1st Group L
13. South Africa – 2nd Group A
14. Canada – 2nd Group B
15. Morocco – 2nd Group C
16. Australia – 2nd Group D
17. Ivory Coast – 2nd Group E
18. Japan – 2nd Group F
19. Egypt – 2nd Group G
20. Cape Verde – 2nd Group H
21. Norway – 2nd Group I
22. Austria – 2nd Group J
23. Portugal – 2nd Group K
24. Croatia – 2nd Group L
25. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 3rd Group B
26. Paraguay – 3rd Group D
27. Ecuador – 3rd Group E
28. Sweden – 3rd Group F
29. Senegal – 3rd Group I
30. Algeria – 3rd Group J
31. DR Congo – 3rd Group K
32. Ghana – 3rd Group L

Round of 32 bracket

The elimination matchups are scheduled for the following days:

Sunday, June 28

• South Africa vs. Canada – 3:00 PM (ET) – Los Angeles Stadium

Monday, June 29

• Brazil vs. Japan – 1:00 PM (ET) – Houston Stadium
• Germany vs. Paraguay – 4:30 PM (ET) – Boston Stadium
• Netherlands vs. Morocco – 9:00 PM (ET) – Estadio Monterrey

Tuesday, June 30

• Ivory Coast vs. Norway – 1:00 PM (ET) – Dallas Stadium
• France vs. Sweden – 5:00 PM (ET) – New York New Jersey Stadium
• Mexico vs. Ecuador – 9:00 PM (ET) – Mexico City Stadium

Wednesday, July 1

• England vs. DR Congo – 12:00 PM (ET) – Atlanta Stadium
• Belgium vs. Senegal – 4:00 PM (ET) – Seattle Stadium
• United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 8:00 PM (ET) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Thursday, July 2

• Spain vs. Austria – 3:00 PM (ET) – Los Angeles Stadium
• Portugal vs. Croatia – 7:00 PM (ET) – Toronto Stadium
• Switzerland vs. Algeria – 11:00 PM (ET) – BC Place Vancouver

Friday, July 3

• Australia vs. Egypt – 2:00 PM (ET) – Dallas Stadium
• Argentina vs. Cape Verde – 6:00 PM (ET) – Miami Stadium
• Colombia vs. Ghana – 9:30 PM (ET) – Kansas City Stadium

This elimination round will give soccer fans plenty to talk about with stellar matchups, happening at a stage where squads already begin playing “finals,” given the single-elimination format. The most prominent fixtures include the Netherlands against Morocco, as they are title contenders and strong rivals, with one bowing out very early, alongside Portugal vs. Croatia, Brazil vs. Japan, and Mexico vs. Ecuador serving as the clear highlights.

This is a tournament phase where agonizing qualifications, last-minute goals, extra time, and penalty shootouts return to center stage. It is an environment where nerves take their toll, and a single minimal error can leave a team completely out of the competition.

Instead, as Group D winners, the USA will go up against the third-place team from Group B. That is none other than Bosnia and Herzegovina, who finished with four points in their group with Switzerland, Canada, and Qatar. The USMNT will play Bosnia on the West Coast. More precisely, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara) on July 1st at 8:00 p.m. ET.

At the latest venue to host the Super Bowl, the Stars and Stripes will have their own version of their most important game to date. Regardless of the result against Turkiye, they will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

More about USA’s next rival

While European national teams always demand respect in FIFA World Cups, the USA may have come across one of the least-daunting sides out of their possibilities. At least on paper, Bosnia and Herzegovina have had an irregular performance in the 2026 World Cup.

The Dragons started off the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Canada before losing 4-1 to Switzerland in a game that seemed destined to be a low-scoring affair until things got out of hand late. Bosnia and Herzegovina secured their spot in the round of 32 thanks to Sweden’s draw with Japan, but they had already laid the groundwork by taking down Qatar with a commanding 3-1 win over the Maroons.

Expect a physical matchup

The USMNT know they have their work cut out for them. In the elimination round of the 2026 World Cup, the tiniest mistake can be the difference between winning and losing, so Mauricio Pochettino’s side must be razor-sharp throughout the 90—and possibly 120 minutes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by head coach Sergej Barbarez, play a physical style of soccer, relying heavily on their height and size to wear down opponents. Moreover, they pay close attention to set pieces and look to do damage in the aerial game.

With their performance against Canada in the opening game in the Great White North, the Dragons also proved they aren’t fazed by hostile environments or by having everything stacked against them.

USA’s opponents won’t be fazed

In the Golden State, American fans will aim to make life hell for the visitors, but these guests aren’t easily frightened and are used to adversity. It’s a common phrase, but not a cliché: the knockout stage is when the World Cup truly begins. If the United States don’t engrave that into their heads, they might be in for a rude awakening against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It’s true, the Dragons lack an elite star leading the way, but teams have fallen and dreams have been crushed at the hands of much weaker opponents before. The Stars and Stripes ought not to suffer that fate.

The match will be played in Los Angeles, which has a World Cup capacity of approximately 70,000 spectators, meaning another near-capacity crowd is expected for the host nation’s final group-stage appearance.

Even without direct qualification stakes, the fixture still draws attention for different reasons. For the United States, they have an opportunity to maintain their high level of performance in front of home supporters, while Turkiye look to salvage pride and finally showcase the attacking talent that has yet to fully emerge in the tournament.

How have Turkiye performed so far?

Türkiye arrived at the World Cup with high expectations but have struggled to deliver in Group D. The team opened with a 2-0 defeat to Australia, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss against Paraguay, results that confirmed their early elimination from the competition.

How are the United States approaching the match?

The United States now sit 14th in the FIFA World Rankings after securing six points from two matches, including a 4-1 victory over Paraguay and a 2-0 win against Australia. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has already confirmed top position in Group D and qualification to the Round of 32.

With progression secured, the United States will rotate their starting lineup. Christian Pulisic has been confirmed to start on the bench due to a tactical decision, Even with changes, the United States aim to maintain their strong momentum heading into the knockout stage.

In fact, as the USA take on Turkiye, ranked No. 32 in the FIFA World Rankings, the final score will have absolutely no bearing on the final standings. Regardless of whether Mauricio Pochettino’s side win, tie, or lose, the Stars and Stripes will finish atop the group table and advance at the 2026 World Cup. In fact, because of the Group F final standings, the USA already found out it will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

While the USMNT’s showdown against Turkiye has virtually nothing on the line—the U.S. are guaranteed to finish first and the Turks are already eliminated—the Americans are still hoping for a win to complete a perfect group stage.

What happens if USA win vs. Turkiye?

The United States will close out the group stage of the 2026 World Cup in perfect, unbeaten fashion with a triumph over Turkiye in Los Angeles. Moreover, they would send a message to the rest of the tournament by becoming the second team to go three-for-three and amass nine points in the first round. For the time being, only Mexico have accomplished such a feat.

Of course, those points will have no effect once the knockout stage gets underway, but they will certainly build confidence for the co-host nation, who are guaranteed to play every game on home soil—a benefit neither Mexico nor Canada will enjoy.

As for the Crescent Stars, they would complete an abysmal tournament by finishing dead last in the table with no points and three straight losses. However, Turkiye are guaranteed to finish last regardless of how they fare against the USMNT.

What happens if USA and Turkiye tie?

If the game between USA and Turkiye ends in a stalemate, the Stars and Stripes will finish first in Group D with seven points out of the nine possible. The USMNT would still finish the group stage undefeated, but it may come at a cost momentum-wise.

As for Turkiye, everything would stay the same. They would finish in last place, and a draw against an American side resting its starters — Christian Pulisic isn’t starting today — would be nothing for the Crescent Stars to go out and paint the town red about.

What happens if USA lose vs. Turkiye?

In the event the USA fall to Turkiye, they will see their unbeaten run come to an end at the 2026 World Cup. Many may argue it could be a perfectly timed wake-up call for the Stars and Stripes. Pochettino’s team would still finish atop its group with six points—the U.S. hold the tiebreaking advantage over both Australia and Paraguay.

A loss could serve as a reminder for the USMNT not to rest on its laurels. It may turn out to be a rendition of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, warning the USA about the battles to come in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage.

As for Turkiye, a win would be a slight bright spot to end the tournament on, but nothing to go back to Anatolia and tell stories about. Turkiye would still finish dead last in Group D, even if they end level on points with either Australia or Paraguay, because both countries prevailed in the head-to-head matchups against the Crescent Stars.

The Stars and Stripes put the tournament on notice with a dominant 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay before blanking Australia 2-0. Those consecutive masterclasses catapulted the Americans to first place in the group with six points, putting them in prime position to cap off opening-round play with a flawless 3-0-0 record and a massive goal differential.

Meanwhile, Turkiye have been one of the tournament’s most glaring disappointments despite a roster boasting elite European talent like Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu. Sitting at the bottom of the group with zero points, the Turkish side will play strictly for pride as they look to finish their disappointing World Cup run with a statement performance.

USA’s FIFA ranking

Riding the momentum of back-to-back group-stage victories, the United States has climbed three spots in the live FIFA World Rankings, jumping from 17th at the start of the tournament to 14th.

The Americans picked up a massive 38.36 ranking points courtesy of their triumphs over Paraguay and Australia, pushing their total to 1,709.59. This surge places the current squad on the precipice of one of the highest rankings in USMNT history, rapidly approaching a return to the global top 10.

Best position reached by USA in the FIFA ranking

The high-water mark for the USMNT in the official world rankings came exactly two decades ago. In the spring of 2006, a golden generation led by Landon Donovan peaked at a historic No. 4 in the world, cementing their status as the undisputed heavyweight of CONCACAF ahead of that year’s tournament in Germany.

The program’s most recent foray into elite territory came in 2021, when a trophy-laden summer pushed the Americans to 10th globally. With the knockout rounds looming, this current squad has every opportunity to keep scaling the ladder as the stakes intensify on home soil.

The first-world venue is expected to welcome a hyped-up crowd close to its full capacity of approximately 72,000 spectators for USA vs Turkiye. The Los Angeles Stadium cost a staggering $5.5 billion to build, so it’s one of the most elite, modern venues in the World Cup.

Temperature will be about 68°F (20°C) around kick-off time, dropping to 65°F (18°C) by the end of the match. Hence, the mood is set perfectly for a great night of World Cup action between the USMNT and Turkiye.

What will the weather be like for Turkiye vs USA today?

Weather is expected to be pleasant at Inglewood, but the fact is SoFi Stadium does not have a traditional, fully enclosed retractable roof. Instead, it features a massive, translucent canopy with massive built-in adjustable openings that slide like car sunroofs to control wind flow. Hence, outside weather is very controlled.

What is at stake for Turkiye and USMNT in Group D?

The USMNT has already secured its first-place spot due to its wins vs. Paraguay and Australia. Meanwhile, Turkiye, who will play with a full white uniform vs. USA has already bought the tickets back home, as two defeats against USMNT’s same opponents already made it impossible for the Ottomans to qualify to the next round of the 2026 World Cup.

As a consequence, he also missed the second group-stage match against Australia as Mauricio Pochettino and the medical staff chose not to risk aggravating the injury.

With the United States already qualified for the Round of 32 and guaranteed to finish first in Group D, the coaching staff once again has no reason to rush Pulisic back into action. A win, tie or loss won’t change much for the USMNT today.

Is Christian Pulisic playing against Turkiye?

Christian Pulisic is not starting against Turkiye. After missing the match against Australia because of his calf injury, the USMNT takes a cautious approach with the captain. Since the USA have already secured both qualification to the Round of 32 and first place in Group D, there is no competitive urgency to risk Pulisic before the knockout stage. Those in attendance for USA vs Turkiye will miss him, but the decision makes sense.

Why isn’t Christian Pulisic starting vs Turkiye?

It’s Mauricio Pochettino’s decision. Rather than rushing him back into the starting lineup, the USA are focused on having the captain available for the Round of 32.

Could Pulisic play against Turkiye?

Pulisic will be on the bench though, so he can still play some minutes against Turkiye as a substitute. The USA’s FIFA ranking is already strong and the team is capable of going through this match without its biggest star.

Will Pulisic be ready for the Round of 32?

That is the expectation. Everything suggests the United States are managing Pulisic’s workload with the knockout stage in mind. If his recovery continues as planned, the USMNT captain should be available when the United States begin their Round of 32 campaign, where every match becomes win-or-go-home.

Turkiye currently sit at No. 32 in the FIFA World Rankings. Turkiye entered the tournament at No. 23, falling nine places. Not many teams have dropped that many spots during the 2026 World Cup. Only Tunisia, who dropped 12 places from No. 45 to No. 57, suffered a bigger and tougher fall from grace than Turkiye did. The USA, on the other hand, has climbed spots in the FIFA ranking.

Still, considering the Turks’ aspirations and the fact they were eliminated before their group-stage finale against hosts the United States, it’s clear no other team has had it worse than Turkiye in this tournament.

Unofficial FIFA ranking updates

While Turkiye’s place at No. 32 is deflating, they can find some comfort in the fact that it’s not an official ranking. FIFA published its official rankings before the start of the 2026 World Cup—in which they ranked No. 23 in the world—and will update them when the tournament comes to an end on July 19.

However, Turkiye’s current place at No. 32 is based on their performance in the World Cup so far. A win over the USMNT could change things for Turkiye, though the fact they were eliminated in the group stage will likely outweigh any potential result.

Turkiye will likely finish closer to their current 32nd-place ranking than the 23rd-place mark they held before their disappointing losses to Australia and Paraguay.

Turkiye’s best and worst FIFA Ranking in team history

Turkiye have seen much better days. FIFA rated them as the fifth best national team in the world in 2004, and Turkiye’s best final rank in history was their 8th place finish in 2003.

As for their worst, the Crescent Stars have also been through much tougher times. Their worst rank ever was 67th in 1993. However, their direst year-end ranking was slightly better, as they finished 57th in 1998.

How to watch Turkiye vs USMNT in the USA

Fans in the United States won’t want to miss this marquee matchup, available live on FOX and Telemundo via standard television broadcasts.

Viewers can also stream the game on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock Premium. Don’t miss this exciting showdown.

Can I watch Turkiye vs USMNT for free?

Fans in the United States can catch this highly anticipated clash live on Fubo and DirecTV Stream. Eligible users may also receive a free five-day trial.

Both platforms provide nationwide live access, allowing audiences to follow every key sequence and decisive highlight in real time from start to finish.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The United States enters its final group-stage match with little pressure after back-to-back victories over Paraguay and Australia locked up both a spot in the knockout round and the top position in the group.

With first place already secured regardless of the outcome, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum, managing minutes, and keeping key contributors fresh ahead of the next stage.

Turkey, meanwhile, have struggled to make an impact throughout the tournament and will be looking to salvage some pride by closing out their World Cup campaign with a positive result.

Turkiye vs USMNT: Predicted Lineups

Turkiye (4-3-3): Uğurcan Çakır; Mert Müldür, Merih Demiral, Abdulkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Arda Güler; Yunus Akgün, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu.

USMNT (5-3-2): Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi.

What time is the Turkiye vs USMNT match?

The match kicks off today, June 25, at 10:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 10:00 PM
Central Time: 9:00 PM
Mountain Time: 8:00 PM
Pacific Time: 7:00 PM

For Mauricio Pochettino’s team, it makes no difference whether it wins, draws, or loses. Its place in the Round of 32 as Group D leaders has already been secured following the USMNT‘s wins over Paraguay and Australia.

As for Turkiye, their expectations were too hot to handle. After two losses, they are already eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Hence, this game literally changes nothing for either team in this game.

USMNT and Turkiye’s uniforms for 2026 World Cup

Turkiye, who enter this game ranked at No. 32 by FIFA, will use its full white kit details in red, as its goalkeeper will wear a full green uniform. This will be the last game for Turkiye in the 2026 World Cup after a disappointing campaign.

The USMNT will use a navy blue uniform with a slight pattern. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper will use a yellow kit with a star pattern on a slight red shadow. The USMNT wants to keep momentum for the Round of 32. Referee Mustapha Ghorbal, who will officiate USA vs Turkiye, will be wearing a turquoise shirt.

The USA already knows the date and opponent for the Round of 32, as Pochettino’s men are set to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in their first game of the knockout phase.

While many teams remain in contention, only a select few have already booked their tickets to the next phase. It’s not an easy task with so many possible combinations.

Here is a look at which teams have officially advanced so far as the tournament is currently on Matchday 2 for all groups and there’s still a lot to be determined in the next days.

2026 World Cup: How does qualification to the Round of 32 work?

Under the new 48-team format, the World Cup is divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from every group automatically qualify for the Round of 32. In addition, the eight best third-place teams across all groups also advance. That means 32 of the tournament’s 48 teams will reach the knockout stage, making qualification more accessible than in previous World Cups.

Which teams have qualified for the Round of 32 in 2026 World Cup?

As of now, seven teams have officially secured their places in the Round of 32: Mexico, United States, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, and Colombia. Mexico became the first team to clinch qualification after winning its opening two matches of the tournament against South Africa and South Korea.

The USMNT also booked a spot in the Round of 32. After defeating Paraguay in the opener and following that result with a victory over Australia, the Americans reached six points and secured first place in Group D.

Germany became the third team to officially qualify for the Round of 32 after coming from behind to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto. The victory gave Julian Nagelsmann’s side six points from their first two matches, following the team’s dominant 7-1 win over Curacao in the tournament opener.

Argentina secured its knockout-stage berth by defeating Austria on the heels of two brilliant performances by Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, France and Norway also punched their tickets with respective victories over Iraq and Senegal, setting up a high-stakes final matchday to decide the winner of Group I.

With their spot in the Round of 32 officially secured following a victory over DR Congo, Colombia shifts its focus to a critical group finale against Portugal. A solitary point will be enough for Los Cafeteros to lock down first place and hold off Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad.