General view of the official mascot La’eeb during the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar, November 20. — Reuters

World Cup 2022 review: Which teams are out of FIFA tournament?

As Argentina and France contest tonight to decide this year's champion, here is an overview of the 30 eliminated teams' journey until now.
Published December 18, 2022

With the World Cup in Qatar nearing its conclusion, here is an overview of the teams that have been eliminated from the tournament, which ends tonight.

What is the format for the tournament?

A round-robin format with each of the 32 teams playing three matches in groups of four. Teams get three points for a win and one for a draw.

The top two in each group advanced to the last 16, with one-off matches that can go to extra time and then penalties if necessary to decide a winner.

There are a total of four rounds: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, which will take place tonight.

There is also a third-place playoff between the losers of the semi-finals.

Which teams qualified for the Round of 16?

Group A: Netherlands and Senegal

Group B: England and the United States

Group C: Argentina and Poland

Group D: France and Australia

Group E: Japan and Spain

Group F: Morocco and Croatia

Group G: Brazil and Switzerland

Group H: Portugal and South Korea

Which teams qualified for the quarter-finals?

Argentina, Netherlands, England, France, Croatia, Brazil, Morocco and Portugal.

Which teams qualified for the semi-final?

Croatia, Argentina, Morocco and France.

Which teams have qualified for the finals?

Argentina and France.

Which teams have been eliminated from the world cup?

Qatar

Hosts Qatar were the first team to be eliminated following defeats by Ecuador (2-0) and Senegal (3-1). They ended their campaign without a point after a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands in their final group stage match.

Ecuador

Ecuador came agonisingly close to reaching the last 16 and matching their previous best showing in 2006 but were eliminated after a 2-1 defeat to African champions Senegal.

Iran

Iran’s Roozbeh Cheshmi (back, C) scores against Wales during their Group ‘B’ match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday.—AFP
Iran’s Roozbeh Cheshmi (back, C) scores against Wales during their Group ‘B’ match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday.—AFP

Despite being beaten 6-2 by England in their Group B opener, Iran’s 2-0 victory over Wales had given them a glimmer of hope for a history-making march to the last 16.

However, a 1-0 defeat to the United States knocked them out of the competition.

Wales

Wales, who were competing in the global showpiece tournament for the first time since 1958, finished bottom of Group B with one point and one goal.

Mexico

Mexico missed out on the knockout stages after finishing behind Poland on goal difference, ending a run of seven successive last-16 appearances at the World Cup.

Mexico coach Tata Martino accepted full responsibility for their exit and said he will not extend his contract with the federation (FMF).

Saudi Arabia

After opening their campaign in Qatar with a stunning 2-1 victory over Argentina, Saudi Arabia lost 2-0 to Poland and saw their hopes of making the knockout phase vanish with a 2-1 defeat by Mexico.

Tunisia

Tunisia beat defending champions France 1-0 in their last Group D match but it was not enough for them to advance to the last 16, after they drew to Denmark and were beaten by Australia in their first two games.

Denmark

Denmark finished bottom of Group D after drawing with Tunisia and losing to France and Australia.

Germany

 Germany’s Niclas Fuellkrug scores against Spain at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.—Reuters
Germany’s Niclas Fuellkrug scores against Spain at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.—Reuters

Germany were knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage for a second consecutive time, finishing third in Group E behind Japan and Spain.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica were knocked out after suffering a 4-2 defeat by Germany in their final Group E match, which left them bottom with three points after they lost 7-0 to Spain before beating Japan 1-0.

Belgium

Belgium, who were favourites to qualify from Group F, finished third in their group with four points after winning just one of their three games.

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, who had been in charge of the team since 2016 and led them to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, said he was standing down from the job after his side’s exit.

Canada

Canada, making their first World Cup appearance since 1986, finished bottom of Group F with three losses.

Cameroon

Cameroon beat five-time winners Brazil 1-0 in their last Group G match but it was not enough for them to advance to the last 16, after they drew to Serbia and were beaten by Switzerland in their first two games.

Serbia

Serbia finished bottom of Group G and leave Qatar without a single win, losing to Brazil and Switzerland and drawing with Cameroon.

Uruguay

Uruguay finished Group H on four points, the same as South Korea, but were knocked out because they had scored fewer goals than the Asian side.

Ghana

Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in a thrilling win but defeats to Portugal and Uruguay eliminated them from the tournament.

Australia

Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi is challenged by Australia’s midfielders #13 Aaron Mooy and #22 Jackson Irvine during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Dec 3. — AFP
Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi is challenged by Australia’s midfielders #13 Aaron Mooy and #22 Jackson Irvine during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Dec 3. — AFP

Australia were eliminated from the World Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the last 16, with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez securing the win for the South Americans.

The United States

The United States’ World Cup campaign came to an end after a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the last 16.

Senegal

African champions Senegal were beaten 3-0 by England in the last 16, with Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka getting on the scoresheet for Gareth Southgate’s side.

Poland

Poland, in the knockout stage for the first time since 1986 and looking for a first quarter-final appearance since 1982, were knocked out after a 3-1 defeat to France in the last 16.

South Korea

South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan (R) scores against Portugal during their Group ‘H’ match at the Education City Stadium on Friday.—Reuters
South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan (R) scores against Portugal during their Group ‘H’ match at the Education City Stadium on Friday.—Reuters

World Cup favourites Brazil scored four first-half goals to secure an impressive 4-1 victory over South Korea in their last 16 clash.

After the defeat, South Korea coach Paulo Bento announced that he is standing down, but added that the decision had been made months ago and was not impacted by anything that happened in Qatar.

Japan

Japan were eliminated from the World Cup in the last 16 yet again after a defeat to Croatia.

They were beaten by Turkey at the same stage in 2002, exited on penalties against Paraguay in 2010 and gave up a 2-0 lead to lose to a stoppage-time goal against Belgium four years ago.

Spain

Former champions Spain were eliminated after being beaten on penalties by Morocco in the last 16.

Spain enjoyed more than 75% of possession in the match and completed almost 1,000 passes but were unable to break down their well-organised opponents.

Switzerland

Switzerland were knocked out following a 6-1 defeat by Portugal.

Brazil

 Brazil’s forward #20 Vinicius Junior (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Brazil’s forward #11 Raphinha, Brazil’s midfielder #07 Lucas Paqueta and Brazil’s forward #10 Neymar during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and South Korea at Stadium 974 in Doha on Dec 5. — AFP
Brazil’s forward #20 Vinicius Junior (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Brazil’s forward #11 Raphinha, Brazil’s midfielder #07 Lucas Paqueta and Brazil’s forward #10 Neymar during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and South Korea at Stadium 974 in Doha on Dec 5. — AFP

Favourites Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup after being beaten on penalties by Croatia.

Brazil took the lead after Neymar scored an extra-time goal, but Croatia fought back to level the game through Bruno Petkovic in the 117th minute.

The Netherlands

Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the Dutch had snatched a 2-2 draw from the jaws of defeat.

Portugal

Portugal’s Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo react after missing a chance to score at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Quarter Final in Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Dec 10. — Reuters
Portugal’s Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo react after missing a chance to score at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Quarter Final in Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Dec 10. — Reuters

Morocco claimed a shock 1-0 victory over the highly fancied Portugal after Youssef En-Nesyri leapt high in the air to head home the game’s only goal just before halftime.

England

England were knocked out of the tournament following a 2-1 defeat by France.

Goals by Oliver Giroud and Aurelien Tchouameni gave France the win, with England’s Harry Kane missing the chance to equalise, sending his spot kick wildly over the bar six minutes from time.

Morocco

Morocco’s Romain Saiss and Achraf Hakimi look dejected after being eliminated from the World Cup. — Reuters
Morocco’s Romain Saiss and Achraf Hakimi look dejected after being eliminated from the World Cup. — Reuters

Morocco were beaten 2-0 by France in the semi-finals, with Theo Hernandez scoring in the fifth minute before France settled the outcome with a second goal 11 minutes from time as substitute Randal Kolo Muani tucked in a shot at the back post.

Croatia

Mislav Orsic’s 42nd-minute wonder-strike had seen Croatia edge this 2-1, giving Modric a winning sendoff. — Reuters
Mislav Orsic’s 42nd-minute wonder-strike had seen Croatia edge this 2-1, giving Modric a winning sendoff. — Reuters

Croatia, who finished runners-up in 2018, were beaten 3-0 by Argentina in the semi-finals.

Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 34th minute before Alvarez doubled their lead five minutes later.

Alvarez then put the game beyond reach in the 70th minute with a simple finish, with Messi providing the assist for his 22-year-old teammate.

Croatia finished third in the tournament after beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place playoff.

Mislav Orsic’s late first-half strike was enough to settle the contest after two goals inside the first nine minutes set the tone for a pulsating encounter, with Achraf Dari cancelling out Josko Gvardiol’s opener for Croatia.