The 12 teams remaining after the pool play competed in a four-round single-elimination bracket, with a bronze medal match between the semifinal losers.

Only as much fencing was done as was necessary to determine pool placement (in the first round) or the winning team (in the knockout rounds), so not all matches went to the full 16 bouts but instead stopped early (typically when one team had 9 bouts won).

This eliminated Australia; Luxembourg and France faced off to determine their placing within the group.

Both Hungary and the United Arab Republic were guaranteed advancement; they faced each other to determine placing.

This eliminated Japan; Belgium and the Soviet Union faced off to determine placing.

Great Britain and then Germany each defeated Venezuela, eliminating the South Americans.