Teams Eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Here's a look at the national teams whose World Cup dreams have already come to an end in the tournament so far.
The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title is heating up, and several nations have already seen their dreams come to an end. Here's a look at the teams that have been eliminated from the tournament so far. How far will your favorite nation go?
16 Teams Eliminated So Far at thisWorld Cup, All in the Group Stage.
HAITI
The Caribbean nation, appearing at football’s biggest tournament for the first time since the 1974 FIFA World Cup, became the first team eliminated from contention after defeats to Scotland (1–0 in Boston Stadium) and Brazil (3–0 in Philadelphia Stadium) in Group C.
Despite finishing the tournament without a point—and still searching for their first-ever World Cup point—their campaign will be remembered for a spirited performance against Morocco national football team at Atlanta Stadium. In a thrilling 4–2 defeat, Haiti pushed one of the tournament’s most respected sides to the limit and, for stretches of the match, had the World Cup surprise package from four years ago on the ropes.
Although the result ultimately went against them, the Haitians left a lasting impression with their courage, attacking intent, and refusal to back down against more established opposition.
TURKEY
The UEFA side became the second team to be eliminated, as costly mistakes sealed their fate in Group D following defeats to Australia (2-0 at BC Place in Vancouver) and Paraguay (1-0 at San Francisco Stadium).
They at least bowed out on a high note, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory over co-host United States in Los Angeles thanks to a last-minute goal on matchday three.
This appearance marked their return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since Korea/Japan 2002.
TUNISIA
Two defeats at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico left them with no margin for error in Group F, after a heavy 5-1 loss to Sweden and a 4-0 defeat to Japan — the latter coming in the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history.
They bowed out with a third straight loss, falling 3-1 to the Netherlands at Kansas City Stadium, finishing as the second-worst team in the tournament with zero points and a -10 goal difference, having conceded 12 goals and scored just two.
JORDAN
The fourth nation eliminated is tournament debutant Jordan, which will enter its final group match against Lionel Messi's Argentina national football team with no chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Jordan lost 3-1 to Austria national football team and 2-1 to Algeria national football team at San Francisco Stadium.
UZBEKISTAN
The fifth team eliminated is another World Cup debutant, the Uzbekistan side coached by Fabio Cannavaro.
The White Wolves were defeated 3-1 by Colombia national football team at Mexico City Stadium before suffering a 5-0 loss to Portugal national football team in Houston.
They will conclude their group-stage campaign against the Republic of the Congo national football team.
PANAMA
The sixth team eliminated from title contention is Panama.
The Central American nation became the second CONCACAF side knocked out, joining Haiti after back-to-back narrow defeats in Toronto against Ghana national football team and Croatia national football team.
Although Panama still has one match remaining against England national football team, its hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds have already disappeared.
QATAR
The Qatari national team, after earning their first-ever World Cup point in a thrilling 1–1 draw against Switzerland at San Francisco Stadium, were unable to build on that result.
They suffered a heavy 6–0 defeat to co-host Canada in Vancouver, followed by a 3–1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle.
With those results, Qatar conclude their second World Cup appearance bottom of Group B with just one point. They will now look to bounce back in four years’ time.
They become the third Asian team eliminated from the tournament and the seventh overall exit of this World Cup.
CZECHIA
A heavy 3–0 defeat to Mexico national football team at the iconic Estadio Azteca sealed Czechia’s fate, making them the latest UEFA side to bow out of the race for the World Cup title.
There had been hope of reaching the knockout stage after a 1–1 draw with South Africa national football team in Atlanta. However, a painful 2–1 defeat to South Korea national football team in Guadalajara, in their first World Cup appearance since 2006, left them in a difficult position heading into the expected showdown with co-host Mexico.
Their elimination was ultimately confirmed, capping a disappointing campaign and marking their worst World Cup performance since the 2006 FIFA World Cup. On that occasion, Czechia also failed to advance beyond the group stage, but at least managed to record a victory over the United States before exiting the tournament.
CURACAO
The Black Panthers are heading home after their historic first FIFA World Cup appearance. Despite earning their first-ever World Cup point against Ecuador, Curaçao was eliminated following a 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in its final Group E match at Philadelphia Stadium, finishing bottom of the group.
The Caribbean nation endured a difficult campaign, opening with a 7-1 loss to Germany at Houston Stadium before holding Ecuador to a scoreless draw at Kansas City Stadium. Its hopes of advancing were ultimately dashed by the defeat to the Elephants.
Even so, Curacao's debut on the world's biggest stage produced one unforgettable moment: goalkeeper Eloy Room delivered a remarkable 15-save performance against Ecuador, one of the standout individual displays of the tournament.
IRAQ
A crushing 5-0 defeat to Senegal at Toronto Stadium in Canada sealed the fate of the Lions of Mesopotamia.
The result made Iraq the 10th team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing the group stage without a single point after losing all three of its matches. The Asian side had previously fallen 4-1 to Norway at Boston Stadium and 3-0 to France at Philadelphia Stadium.
Iraq also holds the tournament's worst goal difference so far at -11, having scored just one goal while conceding 12, leaving it at the bottom of the overall standings among the 48 participating nations.
With its exit, Iraq becomes the fourth AFC representative to be eliminated from the tournament.
SAUDI ARABIA
All teams in Group H entered matchday three with a chance to reach the Round of 32, including the Green Falcons, but they let their opportunity slip away. A goalless draw against Cape Verde in Houston sealed their fate, as they finished bottom of the group and became the 11th team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Asian side drew 2-2 with Uruguay in Miami and ended the group stage with two points. However, a 4-0 defeat to Spain in Atlanta proved decisive, as Saudi Arabia’s goal difference of -4 left them behind the Uruguayans (-1) in the final standings.
They become the fifth Asian team eliminated and extend their run of seven consecutive World Cups without advancing past the first round, since their debut at USA 1994 — where they reached the Round of 16, their best-ever finish. This time, however, history did not repeat itself.
URUGUAY
The side coached by Marcelo Bielsa suffered one of the biggest disappointments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
La Celeste went from targeting top spot in Group H to becoming the first South American team eliminated from the tournament—overall the 12th team knocked out—triggering a chain reaction that confirmed seven nations into the knockout stage on the penultimate day of the group phase.
Uruguay collected just two points, drawing 1-1 with Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde in Miami, before falling 1-0 to Spain in Guadalajara in what was their final match at the tournament.
NEW ZEALAND
The tournament’s most viral figure, Tim Payne, sees his World Cup journey come to an early end as New Zealand become the 13th team eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Kiwis managed just a single point in the tournament, earned in a 2-2 draw against Iran in their opening match in Los Angeles. They then fell 3-1 to Egypt and 5-1 to Belgium at BC Place in Vancouver.
New Zealand were the only representative from the OFC, the Oceania confederation.
SCOTLAND
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams ended Scotland's hopes of extending their campaign. The Tartan Army had dreamed of facing Mexico at Estadio Azteca, needing to advance through the same route after finishing behind Brazil and Morocco in Group C.
Scotland, the tournament's 14th eliminated team, managed just one victory—a 1-0 win over Haiti in their opener at Boston Stadium. They then suffered a narrow defeat to Morocco in Boston before falling 3-0 to Brazil in Miami, finishing with three points.
It marked Scotland's return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence, but once again they were unable to progress beyond the group stage.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea also saw their World Cup campaign come to an end after the Democratic Republic of the Congo's 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan in Atlanta. The Taegeuk Warriors finished as the third-worst third-placed team in the tournament, ahead of only Uruguay and Scotland among the 12 third-place finishers.
Competing in Group A, South Korea opened with a 2-1 win over Czechia in Guadalajara, earning their only three points of the tournament. They then lost 1-0 to co-host Mexico at the same venue before suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat to South Africa in Monterrey, dropping to third place behind both of those teams.
Expected to make a deeper run, the Taegeuk Warriors became the tournament's 15th eliminated side. It is the ninth time in 12 FIFA World Cup appearances that South Korea have failed to advance beyond the group stage.
IR IRAN
Iran became the 16th and final team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Algeria and Austria played to a 3-3 draw in Kansas City in Group J.
Nicknamed The Cheetahs, Iran had hoped to advance as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams after finishing third in Group G with three points. However, their goal difference of zero ultimately proved insufficient, as they were overtaken by Algeria, who claimed the final qualifying berth, while also finishing behind Senegal, another team that progressed as a best third-place finisher.
Iran collected their three points through three draws: 2-2 against New Zealand, 0-0 with Belgium—both in Los Angeles—and a 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle.
Failing to record a victory, dealing with logistical challenges that forced the team to base itself in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than the United States, along with several controversial disallowed goals and the dramatic Algeria-Austria draw, all contributed to Iran's early exit. In seven FIFA World Cup appearances, the nation has never advanced beyond the group stage.
