2026 World Cup: Full list of teams eliminated in the group stage

After a grueling, action-packed slate of 72 matches, the 2026 World Cup group stage is officially in the books. With the field now whittled down to the final 32 teams, the tournament transitions into a high-stakes, single-elimination bracket.

A total of 16 nations have already seen their World Cup dreams shattered, headlined by shocking early exits from perennial contenders like Uruguay and South Korea.

Here is the complete list of teams eliminated in the group stage:

• Group A: Czechia, South Korea
• Group B: Qatar
• Group C: Haiti, Scotland
• Group D: Turkiye
• Group E: Curacao
• Group F: Tunisia
• Group G: New Zealand, Iran
• Group H: Uruguay, Saudi Arabia
• Group I: Iraq
• Group J: Jordan
• Group K: Uzbekistan
• Group L: Panama

While the tournament loses some star power ahead of the knockout rounds, the ultimate dream scenario remains alive: a potential Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi heavyweight clash, which could only happen in a hypothetical, storybook 2026 World Cup final.

The biggest disappointments of the opening round

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Among the early departures were several heavy favorites who certainly didn’t expect to be packing their bags so soon. Foremost among them is Uruguay; La Celeste managed a meager 2 points and were completely upended by Cape Verde, who shocked the world to claim a spot in the Round of 32.

South Korea’s exit stands as another massive surprise. After kicking off their campaign with an impressive victory over Czechia, the Taegeuk Warriors collapsed on the back half of the schedule, failing to secure a knockout berth after consecutive losses to Mexico and a resurgent South Africa squad.

Scotland also had high expectations of escaping Group C. However, the Scots fell agonizingly short after failing to pick up points against heavyweights Brazil and a disciplined Morocco side. Though they had a mathematical lifeline in the third-place wild card standings, a dismal goal differential ultimately sealed their fate.

What’s next on the World Cup calendar?

The tournament now shifts into win-or-go-home mode on the road to crowning a champion on July 19. Here is how the remaining knockout schedule shakes out:

• Round of 32: June 29 – July 3
• Round of 16: July 4 – July 7
• Quarterfinals: July 9 – July 11
• Semifinals: July 14 – July 15
• Third-Place Match: July 18
• World Cup Final: July 19