Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion

Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion

Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion

Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion

Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion

Eliminated in group stage

48. Iraq — 0W-0D-3L, 1 GF, 12 GA

It was always going to be tough sledding for Iraq, which was given perhaps the most difficult draw in the entire tournament in Group I alongside France, Norway and Senegal.

47. Tunisia — 0W-0D-3L, 2 GF, 12 GA

It was a rough showing for Tunisia, which wasn't competitive in any of its three matches and sacked its coach after just one game.

46. Uzbekistan — 0W-0D-3L, 2 GF, 11 GA

It was too big of a stage for Uzbekistan, which went home pointless in its first ever World Cup.

45. Haiti — 0W-0D-3L, 2 GF, 8 GA

Haiti had some moments of quality against Scotland and Morocco, but couldn't pick up a point in its first World Cup since 1974.

44. Jordan — 0W-0D-3L, 3 GF, 8 GA

There were some highlights for Jordan in its first World Cup, including taking the lead against Algeria and scoring against Argentina. Ultimately though, it wasn't enough to get a point.

43. Panama — 0W-0D-3L, 0 GF, 4 GA

The only team to not score a goal in the World Cup, Panama kept it close in all three of its matches but its lack of attacking firepower was costly.

42. Curaçao — 0W-1D-2L, 1 GF, 9 GA

Curaçao was hammered 7-1 by Germany to kick off the tournament, but rebounded with a heroic 0-0 draw against Ecuador that saw goalkeeper Eloy Room made World Cup history with 15 saves.

41. Qatar — 0W-1D-2L, 2 GF, 10 GA

Qatar's highlight was an opening-match draw against Switzerland, before its tournament fell apart with losses to Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

40. New Zealand — 0W-1D-2L, 4 GF, 10 GA

The Kiwis drew Iran and took the lead against Egypt, but their lack of quality showed as the Pharaohs came back to win before their tournament ended with a heavy 5-1 defeat to Belgium.

39. Czechia — 0W-1D-2L, 2 GF, 6 GA

Czechia was expected to be among the weakest European teams and so it proved, getting just one point out of a relatively easy group with Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

38. Saudi Arabia — 0W-2D-1L, 1 GF, 5 GA

The Saudis got draws against Uruguay and Cape Verde, but a 4-0 defeat to eventual champion Spain prevented them from advancing.

37. Uruguay — 0W-2D-1L, 3 GF, 4 GA

A hugely disappointing showing from Uruguay, which would have expected to easily advance from its group but instead could not get the win it needed against either Saudi Arabia or Cape Verde.

36. Scotland — 1W-0D-2L, 1 GF, 4 GA

Scotland got the opening-match win against Haiti it desperately needed, but fell just short of advancement after losses to Morocco and Brazil.

35. Turkey — 1W-0D-2L, 3 GF, 5 GA

Many pundits fancied Turkey to go on a deep run, but it was instead eliminated after just two games thanks to defeats against Australia and Paraguay. A win against the USA in its final match was academic.

34. South Korea — 1W-0D-2L, 2 GF, 3 GA

One of the World Cup's biggest underachievers, South Korea would have expected to easily advance from a group with Mexico, Czechia and South Africa. Instead, a final-day defeat to South Africa was a fatal blow.

33. Iran — 0W-3D-0L, 3 GF, 3 GA

Facing circumstances no other team in the World Cup had to deal with, exiting the tournament undefeated is a massive credit to Iran. Team Melli was hugely unlucky to not advance.

Eliminated in round of 32

32. Cape Verde — 0W-3D-1L, 4 GF, 5 GA

What a World Cup for the Blue Sharks. In their tournament debut, they were the only team to take a point off Spain and they pushed Argentina to the limit in a classic round of 32 match.

31. Senegal — 1W-0D-3L, 10 GF, 9 GA

Senegal managed to reach the last 32 by hammering Iraq after losses to France and Norway in the group stage. But this tournament will be remembered for an epic collapse against Belgium, which scored twice after 86 minutes to level the game and then found a 125th minute winner in a 3-2 victory.

30. Algeria — 1W-1D-2L, 5 GF, 9 GA

Algeria advanced as a third-place team but didn't put up much of a fight in a 2-0 loss to Switzerland in the round of 32.

29. Bosnia and Herzegovina — 1W-1D-2L, 5 GF, 8 GA

It was a successful tournament for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which reached the knockout phase for the first time. But the Dragons will rue not making more of a man advantage in the round of 32 against the USA.

28. Austria — 1W-1D-2L, 6 GF, 9 GA

Austria managed to escape Group J as a runner-up, but was easily swept aside 3-0 by Spain in the round of 32.

27. Sweden — 1W-1D-2L, 7 GF, 10 GA

Sweden had the rare distinction of both winning and losing a World Cup game 5-1. The journey ended with a 3-0 defeat against France in the round of 32.

26. South Africa — 1W-1D-2L, 2 GF, 4 GA

After a disastrous defeat against Mexico to kick off the tournament, the Bafana Bafana rebounded to advance from the group phase for the first time ever. But a lack of attacking ambition was costly in a 1-0 loss to Canada in the round of 32.

25. Ecuador — 1W-1D-2L, 2 GF, 4 GA

Ecuador needed a result against Germany in its last group-stage match and it got one, winning 2-1. But it was still a disappointing overall tournament for La Tri, which many expected to go far but couldn't get its attack firing.

24. Ghana — 1W-1D-2L, 2 GF, 3 GA

Ghana was not a fun team to watch, riding an ultra-conservative style to the round of 32. But that approach only went so far, as the Black Stars fell 1-0 to Colombia in its first knockout game.

23. DR Congo — 1W-1D-2L, 5 GF, 5 GA

It was a successful World Cup for DR Congo, which managed to get a draw with Portugal and a win over Uzbekistan to advance. The Leopards were so close to a round of 32 shocker over England, but Harry Kane had the final say.

22. Australia — 1W-2D-1L, 3 GF, 3 GA

The Socceroos escaped Group D on the strength of an opening-match win over Turkey. They very nearly reached the last 16 but fell on penalties against Egypt in the round of 32.

21. Japan — 1W-2D-1L, 8 GF, 5 GA

It was another impressive but ultimately frustrating World Cup for Japan, which went unbeaten in the group stage before a heartbreaking last-second defeat to Brazil in the round of 32.

20. Croatia — 2W-0D-2L, 6 GF, 7 GA

Croatia did well to escape Group L after an opening-game loss to England, but its tournament came to an end in controversial fashion thanks to a disallowed goal late against Portugal.

19. Ivory Coast — 2W-0D-2L, 5 GF, 4 GA

It was a solid showing for the Elephants, who won two games in the group stage but couldn't get past Erling Haaland and Norway in the last 32.

18. Germany — 2W-1D-1L, 11 GF, 5 GA

One of the World Cup's biggest disappointments, Germany started off well enough with two wins but was utterly baffled by a defensive-minded Paraguay in the round of 32. Julian Nagelsmann's side fell on penalties in a massive upset.

17. Netherlands — 2W-2D-0L, 11 GF, 5 GA

The Netherlands was perhaps unlucky to go out so early, having gone unbeaten across all four games. But its defense was not as solid as expected, conceding a late equalizer to Morocco in the round of 32 before losing on penalties.