Spain, France and Egypt advance to World Cup round of 32

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Another block of third-round group stage matches has concluded at the 2026 World Cup, currently taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, determining 28 teams that have guaranteed their participation in the round of 32.

For the first time in World Cup history, 48 national teams are participating in the tournament. The competition regulations allow not only the top two teams from each group to advance to the knockout stage, but also the eight best third-placed teams. To date, organizers have finalized nine of the 16 pairings for the first knockout round.

In Group H, Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 in a match played in Guadalajara, Mexico. Alex Baena scored the definitive goal in the 42nd minute. Another costly mistake by 40-year-old Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera prompted head coach Marcelo Bielsa to replace him at halftime. In stoppage time, the South American team was reduced to 10 men after Agustin Canobbio was sent off.

In the other Group H match, played in Houston, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia drew 0-0. Spain finished first in the group with seven points. Cape Verde finished second with three points to sensationally advance to the play-offs, where they will face reigning world champions Argentina. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated from the tournament.

In Group I, France secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Norway in Boston. Forward Ousmane Dembele starred by scoring a hat-trick in the first 32 minutes of the match, the fastest hat-trick recorded at a World Cup since 1954. Desire Doue scored the other goal for France. Norway, playing without Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, and Alexander Sorloth, scored their lone goal through Thelo Aasgaard.

The French team played without the personal presence of head coach Didier Deschamps, who temporarily left the squad following the death of his mother. France advanced from the group in first place with nine points, followed by Norway in second place with six points. Senegal defeated Iraq 5-0 in Toronto to finish third with three points, maintaining a chance to qualify for the play-offs through the third-place team rankings.

In Group G, Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran in Seattle to advance to the round of 32 in second place with five points, losing the top spot to Belgium only on goal difference.

To date, the teams that have secured berths in the first knockout round are Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, the United States, Australia, Paraguay, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Cape Verde, France, Norway, Senegal, Argentina, Colombia, Portugal, England, and Ghana.

Notable confirmed pairings for the round of 32 include Germany against Paraguay, France against Sweden, Brazil against Japan, Ivory Coast against Norway, and Australia against Egypt. The global football tournament continues in North America until 19 July 2026.