The 2026 FIFA World Cup is showing no mercy. At least 12 nations have now been officially eliminated from the tournament ahead of Saturday’s final group stage fixtures.
The latest countries to be handed their exit papers are Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand, each condemned by Thursday and Friday’s results in scenes that will linger long in the memory of their heartbroken supporters.
Senegal were utterly ruthless against a 10-man Iraq side, dismantling them 5-0 to claim third place in Group I in emphatic fashion. Belgium, meanwhile, appears to have rediscovered its best form at precisely the right moment, hammering New Zealand 5-1 in a display full of pace, precision, and clinical finishing.
Uruguay’s exit came in the tightest of margins; a solitary goal was enough for Spain to edge out the South Americans 1-0, ending La Celeste’s tournament in cruel but decisive fashion.
Saudi Arabia’s fate was arguably the most bitter of all: a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, a result that might ordinarily have been acceptable, was simply not enough to keep them alive in the standings.
With a total of 16 teams set to miss the knockout rounds, all eyes now turn to Saturday’s final group fixtures, which will complete the full picture of who advances and who goes home.
Confirmed list of eliminated teams:
- Haiti
- Turkey
- Tunisia
- Jordan
- Panama
- Qatar
- Czech Republic
- Curacao
- Iraq
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage has claimed 12 victims so far: Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, the Czech Republic, Curacao, Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand, with four more eliminations still to come after Saturday’s final fixtures.
Heavyweights like Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were shown the door just as swiftly as the tournament’s smaller nations. With the knockout rounds taking shape, only the sharpest and most clinical sides are moving forward.
