2026 FIFA World Cup: The giants who were eliminated earlier than expected

No one saw this coming. Or at least not all at once. Brazil was eliminated by Norway. Germany was knocked out by Paraguay in a penalty shootout. The Netherlands was stopped by Morocco. Portugal was sent home by Spain. The host nations – Mexico, USA, and Canada also saw their runs end before the most crucial phase of the tournament, but that was somewhat expected.

The 2026 World Cup has turned into a tournament that pays no heed to traditions, reputations, or favorites. The knockout stage claimed so many big names that the balance of power has been completely overturned. If you’re following the tournament and looking for up-to-date predictions for the World Cup matches, one thing is certain – the surprises aren’t over yet.

The favourites who didn’t meet expectations

Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal… Four of the most successful nations in the history of the World Cup and football in general. Brazil and Germany have lifted the trophy a combined nine times. The Netherlands and Portugal have never won it, but they were also considered serious contenders this year. And not a single one of these teams will play in the quarterfinals.

Brazil – one of the biggest surprises of the tournament

The five-time world champions were eliminated by Norway 1-2 in the Round of 32, and they did so in the most troubling way possible – lacking character, lacking ideas, and leaving no impression whatsoever on the tournament. Haaland scored two goals and simply crushed the “Seleção.” Brazil had possession, had the big names, had everything except a plan to counter the relentless Vikings. This is perhaps the weakest generation of “Cariocas” in decades.

Germany – What happened in Qatar was no accident

After the group stage at Qatar 2022, the German team had hoped that hosting Euro 2024 would be a turning point. The 2026 World Cup, however, proved otherwise. Paraguay, a team that almost no one had heard of before the tournament, knocked them out on penalty kicks in the round of 32. German football has a serious problem, and changing coaches clearly isn’t solving it. We’ll have to wait and see if the appointment of Jürgen Klopp will bring about the desired changes.

The Netherlands – penalty kicks and heartbreak

Van Dijk, De Jong, Dumfries – names that appear in the Champions League every season. At the World Cup, however, Morocco knocked them out after a 1-1 draw in extra time and a victory on penalty kicks. “The Tulips” looked good at times, but when the real test came, they couldn’t handle the pressure. It was yet another disappointment for Dutch football, which remains without a World Cup trophy.

Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Last World Cup

Spain defeated them 1-0 in the Round of 16 and sent them home. Ronaldo played the entire game but was unable to change the outcome. At 41, this was his last World Cup, and it ended with three goals and not much magic. The end of an era, as painful as it is to admit. As for the odds on these upsets and how the bookmakers reacted – the picture speaks for itself.

The hosts who failed

Three host countries for a single tournament – something the world of football has never seen before. The United States, Mexico, and Canada were given a historic chance to lift the trophy in front of their home crowds. Not a single one of them took advantage of it.

Mexico – The “quinto partido” remains a dream

Seven consecutive eliminations in the Round of 16 between 1994 and 2018. At Qatar 2022, that streak came to an end in the worst possible way – an elimination in the group stage. Now, as one of the host nations, the hope was that history would be rewritten. However, Bellingham scored the winning goal in a 3-2 victory, and Mexico once again left without reaching the coveted fifth match.

USA – A crushing defeat in front of the home crowd

Belgium crushed them 4-1, but the match was remembered for something else. Folarin Balogun received a red card against Bosnia, after which FIFA, under pressure from phone calls between Trump and Infantino, overturned the suspension under Article 27 of the disciplinary code. The scandal rocked the entire football world. Balogun played against Belgium after all, but the result remained the same.

Canada – no Davis, no chance of winning

Alfonso Davies’ injury proved to be a fatal blow. Without their best player, Canada faced Morocco in the Round of 16 and lost 0-3 – a result that needs no lengthy or detailed explanation. The Atlas Lions were ruthless. The Canadians’ historic run ended on a bitter note for the co-hosts.

They fell, but with their heads held high

Not every elimination is a failure. Some teams left the tournament with dignity and their heads held high, and they deserve to be mentioned.

Paraguay – the historic feat

No one expected them to make it this far. Paraguay went into the match against Germany as underdogs, but came out of it as heroes. José Canale scored the winning penalty kick, goalkeeper Orlando Hill saved two shots, and four-time champion Germany was sent home. Then came France in the Round of 16, and the fairy tale ended with a 0-1 loss, but Paraguay had already written their own chapter in the tournament’s history.

Egypt – two goals away from a miracle

A match that will be remembered for a long time. Egypt led 2-0 in the round of 16 against Argentina and looked like they were going to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup. Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez turned the score to 3-2 within 11 minutes and the Pharaohs’ dream was extinguished in the final minutes. A bitter but dignified elimination, which remains in the shadow of some questionable refereeing decisions in favor of Argentina.

Japan – Martinelli stopped them at the end

Japan took the lead against Brazil with a goal by Sano in the 29th minute and looked poised to repeat its feats from Qatar 2022. However, Casemiro equalized in the 56th minute, and Martinelli scored the winning goal in the 96th minute, eliminating the “Samurai” in the most painful way possible – at the very end of the match. For fans of dynamic football with lots of goals, such games that make under/over 2.5 goals predictions especially interesting in the stage of direct elimination matches.

What can we expect in the quarterfinals?

Eight teams remain. Neither Brazil, nor Germany, nor Portugal are among them. The tournament is wide open, and no one can say with certainty who will lift the trophy on July 19 in New Jersey.

France and Morocco will face off in the quarterfinals – a rematch of their semifinal in Qatar 2022, which Les Bleus won 2-0. The Atlas Lions have a score to settle. Spain and Belgium are perhaps the most convincing teams so far – “La Furia Roja” defeated Portugal 1-0, while the “Red Devils” crushed the US 4-1. On the other side of the bracket, Norway, the surprise of the tournament so far, faces England, while Argentina will battle for a spot in the final against Switzerland following their spectacular comeback from a 0-2 deficit to a 3-2 victory over Egypt.

If you want to place a parlay bet on the quarterfinals, our bet builder tips offer ready-made combinations with analysis for each match.

The World Cup doesn’t forgive mistakes

2026 FIFA World Cup has already gone down in history as the biggest tournament ever, but also as the one that swallowed up some of the biggest names in world football earlier than expected. Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal – all home before the quarterfinals. The three hosts too. Eight teams remain, each with a real chance of reaching the final.

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