England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Paraguay have officially qualified for the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with favourable results in other groups confirming their progression before all group-stage matches have been completed.
While Paraguay have already concluded their three Group-stage fixtures, England, Portugal, Ghana and Egypt still have one match remaining. Regardless of those results, all four teams are now guaranteed a place in the knockout stage.
The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup features a new qualification format, with the top two teams from each of the 12 groups advancing automatically alongside the eight best third-placed teams.
Each of the five qualified nations currently has four points, a total that can no longer be overtaken by several third-placed teams whose groups have already concluded.
Their qualification was confirmed after the completion of matches in multiple groups on Friday.
South Korea finished third in Group A with three points, while Scotland ended third in Group C with the same tally. In Group H, either Uruguay (two points) or Cape Verde (three points) will occupy third place depending on the final standings, while Senegal finished third in Group I with three points.
Since none of those teams can reach four points, England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Paraguay are mathematically assured of finishing among the tournament’s best third-placed teams even in the worst-case scenario.
Paraguay are the only one among the five teams to have completed all three group-stage matches. The remaining four nations still have an opportunity to improve their standings and potentially secure direct qualification as group winners or runners-up when they play their final group fixtures.
The qualification of England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Paraguay further shapes the knockout bracket as the FIFA World Cup 2026 moves closer to the Round of 32, where the race for football’s biggest prize intensifies.