The race for glory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken another dramatic turn, with four more countries seeing their dreams of lifting football’s biggest prize come to an abrupt end.
Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand became the latest teams to be eliminated from the tournament following Friday’s decisive group-stage matches.
Iraq’s campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion after a crushing 5-0 defeat to Senegal. The African side delivered a commanding display against the 10-man Iraqi team, keeping their own hopes of qualification alive.
The victory lifted Senegal to third place in Group I, leaving them in contention for a knockout-stage spot as one of the best third-placed teams.
Uruguay, two-time world champions, also bowed out after suffering a narrow 1-0 loss to Spain. The defeat extinguished their hopes of reaching the Round of 32, while Spain strengthened their push for a deep run in the competition.
Saudi Arabia’s World Cup journey ended despite battling Cape Verde to a goalless draw. The result was not enough to keep the Asian side in the tournament, as Cape Verde continued their impressive campaign.
New Zealand also joined the growing list of casualties after a heavy 5-1 defeat to Belgium. The emphatic victory boosted Belgium’s qualification hopes while confirming New Zealand’s exit.
With the final round of group-stage fixtures still to be played, 16 teams are expected to miss out on the knockout phase.
Teams eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far:
Haiti
Turkey
Tunisia
Jordan
Panama
Qatar
Czech Republic
Curacao
Iraq
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
New Zealand
As the tournament heads into its decisive stage, more nations are expected to see their World Cup ambitions shattered before the knockout rounds begin.
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