Analysts note that although the playoff bracket is determined based on sporting merit, depending on the results of the group stage, the two sides of the bracket turned out to be clearly uneven.
The left side of the knockout bracket turned out to be far more “star-studded” than the right. It features Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Belgium—all of which were considered favorites before the tournament began. And then there’s Croatia, which finished in the top three at the last two World Cups but isn’t rated as highly in this tournament due to a generational shift.
There are fewer such teams on the right side—Argentina, England, and Brazil—which, if they face each other at all, will do so only in the later stages of the tournament.
However, the tournament has already delivered several surprises. In particular, the fairly strong teams from Turkey and Uruguay—which were considered “dark horses”—are leaving the tournament early. But they performed well below their potential.
On the other hand, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—teams few expected to advance—have made it to the knockout stage.
And in the knockout matches, surprises are even more likely. So the most exciting part of the tournament is just beginning.
2026 World Cup Playoff Bracket
Follow our updates
