Six teams knocked out of 2026 World Cup as Uzbekistan, Panama join early exits

Six teams have been knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing their opening two matches. Debutants Uzbekistan suffered a 5-0 thrashing by Portugal followed by a 3-1 loss to Colombia, while Panama fell 1-0 to Croatia and then 1-0 to Ghana. They join Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia and Jordan, whose exits were confirmed earlier. In this expanded 48-team format, the eight best third-placed teams still advance to the Round of 32, keeping hope alive for other squads that lost one match.

For fans of the eliminated nations, the early exit ends hopes of a deep run and affects travel plans, merchandise sales and national pride. For neutral viewers, the shocks highlight how competitive the expanded tournament has become, with traditional powers asserting dominance while underdogs struggle to adapt.

Keep an eye on the remaining group fixtures to see which third-place teams clinch the final knockout spots, and consider how the revised format may affect future World Cup editions.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/24/2026-world-cup-6-teams-eliminated-from-tournament/