Twenty-Five Teams Advance to Knockout Stage of 2026 World Cup

Twenty-five teams remain in the 2026 World Cup as the knockout stage began this week. @Forbes reported that the expanded 48-team format sent 32 nations into the round of 32, double the number from prior tournaments. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two billionaires still competing.

Ronaldo’s net worth stands at $1.2 billion and Messi’s at $1.1 billion, according to the report. Messi has scored six goals in the tournament and 19 career World Cup goals, while Kylian Mbappé also has six tournament goals and 18 career goals. The winner will receive $50 million in prize money and claim a trophy containing nearly 11 pounds of 18-karat gold valued at approximately $713,000.

FIFA’s budget for the event is $3.8 billion, with the organization projecting nearly $9 billion in revenue from the 2026 tournament alone. Germany and the Netherlands were eliminated before the round of 16. Paraguay and Morocco advanced, and Cape Verde, with a population of about 500,000, became the smallest nation by population to reach the knockout stage.

The United States men’s team has lost its last 10 consecutive matches against European opponents. The final is set for July 19 at the rebranded New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Premium tickets carry a face value of $32,970.

Fox Sports is expected to generate at least $250 million from commercials during hydration breaks, while FIFA is distributing $250 million to clubs under its Club Benefits Program. FEMA provided $221 million to U.S. host cities and states for drone-threat protection.