Czechia and Qatar just became the latest nations to be eliminated from the The FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament following defeats in their final group-stage matches.
Eurospredict.com reports that Czechia's hopes of progressing to the Round of 32 ended after a convincing 3-0 defeat to Mexico. Mexico produced another dominant performance to secure all three points, leaving Czechia without a route to the knockout stage.
Qatar also saw their World Cup journey come to an end after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although Qatar fought hard throughout the group stage, they were unable to collect enough points to keep their qualification hopes alive.
With their exits confirmed, Czechia and Qatar join Uzbekistan, Panama, Haiti, Turkey, Jordan, and Tunisia, all of whom have already been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup days back.
New World Cup Format Keeps Qualification Race Open
The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup has introduced a new qualification system for the knockout rounds. The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the Round of 32, while the eight best third-placed teams across all groups also qualify.
This format has made the final group-stage fixtures more competitive, as several countries are still battling for one of the remaining knockout places.
More Eliminations and Qualifications Expected
With additional final group matches still to be played, more teams are expected to either secure qualification for the Round of 32 or be eliminated from the competition.
World cup fans can stay updated with Eurospredict.com for the latest World Cup 2026 news, qualified teams, group standings, football predictions, match previews, and expert analysis as the tournament moves into the knockout stage.
