The group stage of the 2026 World Cup came to an end after 72 matches, with 32 national teams advancing to the knockout rounds under the expanded format.
Haiti’s national team (CONCACAF region) was the first to leave the tournament without achieving any wins, followed by Turkey’s team, which finished its participation with a 3-2 victory over the United States (one of the hosts). After that, withdrawals continued until the roster of the 16 teams was completed.
Financial rewards and participation grants
Despite their early exit, these teams did not leave empty-handed; this year, FIFA will distribute €653 million (about $711 million) to all participating teams, which is close to double the amount distributed in the 2022 Qatar edition—€386 million (about $420 million).
The financial distribution system is based on granting each of the 48 qualified teams a fixed amount of $10 million (about €9 million) simply for participation, plus an additional $2.5 million (about €2.1 million) to cover preparation expenses regardless of on-pitch results, with "FIFA" adding escalating bonuses that grow according to the stage each team reaches.
The following is a list of teams qualified for the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup, and those eliminated from competition.
Qualified teams
Group one: Mexico, South Africa
Group two: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group three: Brazil, Morocco
Group four: United States, Australia, Paraguay
Group five: Germany, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador
Group six: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden
Group seven: Belgium, Egypt
Group eight: Spain, Cape Verde
Group nine: France, Norway, Senegal
Group ten: Argentina, Austria, Algeria
Group one: Ten: Colombia, Portugal, DR Congo
Group twelve: England, Croatia, Ghana
Eliminated from competition
The Czech Republic, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curaçao, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama, Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran.
Performance-based prizes
As teams progress further in the tournament, the financial rewards they receive increase.
FIFA will award the teams that finish in each of the following prize positions:
Champions: $51 million.
Second place: $34 million.
Third place: $30 million.
Fourth place: $28 million.
Places fifth to eighth: $20 million.
Places ninth to sixteenth: $16 million.
Places 17 to 32: $12 million.
Places 33 to 48: $10 million.
These payments total $703 million out of the $871 million on offer in the total prize pool, with the remaining amount—$168 million—paid out to teams regardless of performance.