The knockout bracket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is beginning to take shape. For the first time, the tournament features a round of 32, following its expansion from 32 to 48 teams.

The round of 32 runs from June 28 to July 3. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed finishers, advance to the knockout stage.

Subsequent rounds include the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, a third-place playoff, and the final on July 19.

FIFA has introduced head-to-head records as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points, replacing goal difference. If still tied, goal difference, goals scored, and disciplinary records are used.

Teams qualified for the knockouts so far: Mexico (Group A), USA (Group D), Germany (Group E), Argentina (Group J), France (Group I), and Norway (Group I).

Eliminated teams: Haiti (Group C), Turkiye (Group D), Tunisia (Group F), and Jordan (Group J).

Argentina's Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria to become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. He also scored a hat-trick in the opening match against Algeria.

Source: www.aljazeera.com