Turkey, Panama, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, and Jordan eliminated from 2026 World Cup after group stage round two

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has its first wave of confirmed casualties. Turkey, Panama, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, and Jordan have all been mathematically eliminated from the tournament after the completion of round two in the group stage, joining Haiti as the earliest exits from what is the most expanded World Cup in the competition’s history.

How each team went out

Turkey entered the tournament carrying genuine expectations, having been positioned as a potential dark horse pre-tournament. They finished Group D with zero points and a negative goal difference.

Tunisia’s exit came with an eight-goal deficit across their group stage performances. Panama’s elimination was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat to Croatia. They exit alongside Haiti as the second CONCACAF team eliminated.

Jordan and Uzbekistan round out the group, both sitting on zero points after two matches.

The dead rubber problem

Jordan and Uzbekistan will still play their final group matches. So will Tunisia, Turkey, and Panama. FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams across 12 groups produces a total of 104 group stage matches, and the format is now confronting in real time what happens when multiple teams in a group are already eliminated before the final matchday.

What this means for the remaining groups

Croatia’s 1-0 win over Panama is worth noting as a data point on their own tournament trajectory, with a clean sheet and a disciplined victory confirming Panama’s elimination.

Turkey’s zero-point finish in Group D is the result that will attract the most post-mortem attention given their pre-tournament billing as a potential dark horse.

Tunisia’s eight-goal deficit is a number that will follow this squad. Jordan and Uzbekistan were both on zero points after two matches, with neither nation carrying a long history at this level, as the 2026 tournament represented landmark appearances for both.

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