As the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup proceeds, teams will secure their spot in the knockout stage, which begins on June 28 and wraps up with the World Cup final on July 19.
The field of 48 will be whittled down to 32, and then the titular knockouts will begin, with extra time and penalty shootouts occurring as needed to determine a winner. Here are the teams that have managed to punch a ticket to the knockout stage of the World Cup so far.
Mexico secured its trip to the knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on June 18. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Mexico, one of three hosts of this year’s World Cup, won Group A. That’s thanks to winning its first match of the tournament, 2-0, against South Africa, and then following that victory up with a 1-0 win over South Korea. It will finish its group stage phase with a game against Czechia. As Group A winner, Mexico will play against a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H or I, depending on how the rest of the group stage plays out.
Mexico’s World Cup Schedule
June 11: Mexico 2-0 South Africa
June 18: Mexico 1-0 South Korea
June 24: Mexico vs Czechia — Mexico City Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
June 30: Mexico vs. TBD — Round of 32, Mexico City Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
