Who has been eliminated from the World Cup?

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ByJonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist
  • Published

A total of eight nations have already been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup before the final round of matches conclude.

Of the 48 nations competing, 16 will be eliminated by the time the group stage is concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning (BST).

Five nations that lost both of their opening group stage matches have been eliminated, and while Qatar and the Czech Republic did each manage one draw alongside a defeat in their first two fixtures, they have both found themselves bottom of their groups after a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia and 3-0 loss to Mexico in their respective final matches.

All teams finishing bottom of their group will depart at the end of the group stage, as well as the four third-placed nations with the worst group stage records.

From Group C, Haiti's exit from their first World Cup since 1974 has been confirmed after losses against Scotland and Brazil.

Turkey were the first European nation whose exit has been confirmed following successive defeats to Australia and Paraguay, before being joined in elimination by the Czech Republic.

Tunisia are the only African nation guaranteed to exit at the group stage at present. They have suffered four-goal defeats to both Sweden and Japan so far.

Tournament debutants Jordan are the second Asian nation alongside Qatar already mathematically guaranteed to not advance past the group stage.

In England's Group L, Panama have had an early exit confirmed after 1-0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia.

The latest side to suffer elimination from the group stage are another debuting nation, Curacao, who lost their final group E match against Ivory Coast on Thursday evening.

A format change to this World Cup means head-to-head records instead of goal difference are the primary tiebreaker for countries level on points.

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Full list of teams who have been eliminated from 2026 World Cup

Jean-Kevin Duverne with his thumb upImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Haiti have been eliminated following back-to-back defeats

  • Haiti

  • Turkey

  • Tunisia

  • Jordan

  • Panama

  • Qatar

  • Czech Republic

  • Curacao

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