The stakes are ramping up at the World Cup as the group stage nears its conclusion, with several teams already knocked out of the tournament.
Introduced for the first time ever, the Round of 32 will consist of the 12 group winners, 12 group runner-ups, and the eight best third-placed teams. The new format has already led to a number of surprises, with Haiti becoming the first team to be eliminated after suffering defeats in their opening two games.
Haiti's World Cup hopes were over with one game to spare after a 1-0 loss to Scotland and a subsequent 3-0 defeat to Brazil in their second match. Turkiye also exited the World Cup after just 10 days of competition, following a 2-0 defeat to Australia and a 1-0 loss to Paraguay.
The decision to switch from goal difference to head-to-head record as the primary tiebreaker between sides in the group stage has already had a significant impact. Four teams have already secured top spot in their groups after just two matches, compared to none at the 2022 tournament. This has led to a number of teams being eliminated after just two games, with five teams knocked out so far.
Tunisia's World Cup campaign has been a disaster, with a 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their first match followed by a 4-0 loss to Japan. Jordan's World Cup debut has been short-lived, with the team officially knocked out after losing their second group game to Algeria. Panama, meanwhile, have been competitive but ultimately eliminated from the competition.
However, not all teams have struggled, with co-hosts Mexico and the USA among the first to book their place in the Round of 32. Germany, Argentina, and Colombia have also secured their passage in the tournament, with the Round of 32 set to get underway on June 28.
The Round of 32 will feature a number of teams who have already been knocked out, including England, who will face Panama in their final group game. The tournament will continue to be closely watched as teams battle for a place in the knockout stages.
The eight group winners and runners-up will join the eight best third-placed teams in the Round of 32, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the next round. The tournament will conclude on July 3, with the winner crowned as the World Cup champion.
The Round of 32 will feature a number of exciting matchups, including Germany vs. Japan, Argentina vs. Poland, and France vs. Australia. The tournament will continue to be a closely watched and highly competitive event, with teams vying for a place in the knockout stages.
The teams that have qualified for the Round of 32 include Mexico, the USA, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, France, Norway, and several other teams that have demonstrated their strength and resilience throughout the group stage.
