To advance to the last 16 means to qualify for the next round of the tournament, following the round of 32.
What does it mean?
‘Advance‘ is another way of saying ‘qualify‘ or ‘progress’ in a tournament context – moving forward from one round to the next, for example from the last 32 to the last 16, or the last 16 to the quarter-finals.
Examples
- Belgium advanced to the last 16 after a dramatic extra-time win over Senegal.
- They’ll advance to the quarter-finals if they win their next match.
- Mexico advanced to the last 16 by defeating Ecuador 2-0.
Similar Words/Phrases
- To qualify
- To progress
- To move forward (in a tournament)
Learn More
- Listen to our podcast from Day 21 of the 2026 World Cup
- Translate it or use it in a sentence (forum)
- Read more about this phrase from one of our posts from 2020
Related Glossary Terms
Categories: 2026 World Cup Phrases, Qualifying
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