World Cup group scenarios 2026: How teams can qualify and advance to Round of 32 knockout bracket

As the World Cup group stage enters its second round of matches, some nations will be booking their places in the knockout stages, while others will be heading home.

The new tournament format means most routes to the latter stages will remain open heading into the third round of games.

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At the previous seven World Cups, a 32-team slate was reduced to 16 for the knockout rounds, with the simple equation of the top two from each of the eight four-team groups going through.

Now a 48-team tournament, the top two from each of the 12 groups will be joined by the eight best third-place teams.

It means that we will lose 16 teams at the end of the round-robin phase, with plenty of moving parts to keep track of, especially when it comes to the ranking of the best third-place finishers.

Below is a breakdown of every World Cup group as they stand and what each team needs to progress to the knockout rounds or avoid early elimination.

JUMP TO GROUP: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L

World Cup bracket 2026

World Cup Group A standings and scenarios

Pos	Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1.	Mexico - Q	9	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6
2.	South Africa  - Q	4	3	1	1	1	2	3	-1
3.	South Korea	3	3	1	2	0	2	3	-1
4.	Czechia -- E	1	3	0	2	1	2	6	-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Mexico

Has qualified as group winner.

South Africa

Qualified as second-place team with win over South Korea.

South Korea

Will need help to qualify as third-place team.

Czechia

Eliminated from World Cup with 3-0 loss to Mexico.

Group A schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Thu, June 11	Mexico 2, South Africa 0	FINAL
Thu, June 11	South Korea 2, Czechia 1	FINAL
Thu, June 18	Czechia 1, South Africa 1	FINAL
Thu, June 18	Mexico 1, South Korea 0	FINAL
Fri, June 24	Mexico 3, Czechia 0	FINAL
Fri, June 24	South Africa 1, South Korea 0	FINAL

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World Cup Group B standings and scenarios

Pos.	Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1.	Switzerland -Q	7	3	2	0	1	7	3	+4
2.	Canada - Q	4	3	1	1	1	8	3	+5
3.	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4	3	1	1	1	5	6	-1
4.	Qatar - E	1	3	0	2	1	2	10	-8

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Switzerland 

Switzerland won the group and qualified in first place with its win over Canada on Wednesday.  

Canada

Canada's loss to Switzerland relegated it to second place in the group. The Canadians have still clinched a spot in the knockout stage as the group's second-place finisher.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina finished third in the group but are a near-lock to qualify for the knockout rounds based on their record.

Qatar

Qatar was eliminated from the World Cup by virtue of its loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group B schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Fri, June 12	Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1	FINAL
Sat, June 13	Qatar 1, Switzerland 1	FINAL
Thu, June 18	Switzerland 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1	FINAL
Thu, June 18	Canada 6, Qatar 0	FINAL
Fri, June 24	Switzerland 2,  Canada 1	FINAL
Fri, June 24	Bosnia and Herzegovina 3,  Qatar 1	FINAL

---

World Cup Group C standings and scenarios

PosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1.	Brazil  -- Q	7	3	2	0	1	7	1	+6
2.	Morocco -Q	7	3	2	0	1	6	3	+3
3.	Scotland	3	3	1	2	0	1	4	-3
4.	Haiti - E	0	3	0	3	0	2	8	-6

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Brazil

Has qualified as second-place team.

Scotland

Is not officially eliminated but needs a lot of help to qualify as third-place team.

Haiti

Eliminated with 0 points.

Group C schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Sat, June 13	Brazil 1, Morocco 1	FINAL
Sat, June 13	Scotland 1, Haiti 0	FINAL
Fri, June 19	Morocco 1, Scotland 0	FINAL
Fri, June 19	Brazil 3, Haiti 0	FINAL
Wed, June 24	Brazil 3, Scotland 0	FINAL
Wed, June 24	Morocco 4,  Haiti 2	FINAL

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World Cup Group D standings and scenarios

PosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1.	United States - Q	6	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5
2.	Australia - Q	3	2	1	1	0	2	2	0
3.	Paraguay	3	2	1	1	0	1	2	-1
4.	Turkey - E	0	2	0	2	0	1	5	-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

United States

Won Group D and qualified for the knockout rounds after beating Australia 2-0 and Turkey's loss to Paraguay.

Australia

Clinched a spot in the knockout round with Turkey's loss to Paraguay. Can finish second in Group D with a win against Paraguay.

Paraguay

Clinched a spot in the knockout round with win against Turkey. Can finish second in Group D with a win against Australia.

Turkey

Eliminated after 1-0 loss to Paraguay.

Group D schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Fri, June 12	United States 4,  Paraguay 1	FINAL
Sat, June 13	Australia 2, Turkey 0	FINAL
Fri, June 19	United States 2, Australia 0	FINAL
Fri, June 19	Paraguay 1, Turkey 0	FINAL
Thu, June 25	Turkey 3, United States 2	FINAL
Thu, June 25	Paraguay 0, Australia 0	FINAL

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World Cup Group E standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. Germany - Q	6	3	2	0	0	10	4	+6
2. Ivory Coast - Q	6	3	2	1	0	4	2	+2
3. Ecuador	4	3	1	1	1	2	1	-1
4. Curacao - E	1	3	0	2	1	1	9	-8

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Germany

Qualified for knockout round and clinched Group E with win over Ivory Coast and Ecuador's draw against Curacao.

Ivory Coast

Qualified after beating Curacao on matchday three.

Ecuador

Failed to claim a top-two spot, but their surprise win over Germany means a best third-place spot is possible.

Curacao 

Eliminated with one point.

Group E schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Sun, June 14	Germany 7, Curacao 1	FINAL
Sun, June 14	Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0	FINAL
Sat, June 20	Germany 2,  Ivory Coast 1	FINAL
Sat, June 20	Ecuador 0, Curacao 0	FINAL
Thu, June 25	Curacao 0, Ivory Coast 2	FINAL
Thu, June 25	Ecuador 2, Germany 1	FINAL

---

World Cup Group F standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. Netherlands - Q	7	3	2	0	1	10	4	+6
2. Japan - Q	5	3	1	0	2	7	3	+4
2. Sweden	4	3	1	1	1	7	7	0
4. Tunisia - E	0	3	0	3	0	2	12	-10

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Netherlands

Confirmed as group winners after victory over Tunisia.

Japan

Qualified in second place after a draw with Sweden on matchday three.

Sweden

Missed out on the top two but still in with a chance of going through as a best third-place team.

Tunisia

Eliminated with three defeats from three games.

Group F schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Sun, June 14	Netherlands 2, Japan 2	FINAL
Sun, June 14	Sweden 5, Tunisia 1	FINAL
Sat, June 20	Netherlands 5, Sweden 1	FINAL
Sat, June 20	Japan 4, Tunisia 0	FINAL
Thu, June 25	Japan 1, Sweden 1	FINAL
Thu, June 25	Tunisia 1, Netherlands 3	FINAL

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World Cup Group G standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. Egypt	4	2	1	0	1	4	2	+2
2. Iran	2	2	0	0	2	2	2	0
3. Belgium	2	2	0	0	2	1	1	0
4. New Zealand	1	2	0	1	1	3	5	-2

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Egypt

Can clinch first place in Group G with a win over Iran in the final group stage match. Egypt can fall no further that third in the group standings but is not yet guaranteed a place in the knockouts due to tiebreakers.

Iran

Can clinch first place in Group G with a win over Egypt and a Belgium loss or draw in the final group stage match. 

Belgium

Can clinch second place in Group G with a win over New Zealand and Iran's defeat to Egypt.

New Zealand

Can rise as high as second place in Group G with a win over Belgium and Iran's defeat to Egypt.

Group G schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Mon, June 15	Belgium 1, Egypt 1	FINAL
Mon, June 15	Iran 2, New Zealand 2	FINAL
Sun, June 21	Belgium 0, Iran 0	FINAL
Sun, June 21	Egypt 3, New Zealand 1	FINAL
Fri, June 26	Egypt vs. Iran	11 p.m.
Fri, June 26	New Zealand vs. Belgium	11 p.m.

---

World Cup Group H standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. Spain	4	2	1	0	1	5	1	+4
2. Uruguay	2	2	0	0	2	3	3	0
3. Cape Verde	2	2	0	0	2	2	2	0
4. Saudi Arabia	1	2	0	1	1	0	4	-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Spain

Can clinch first place in Group H with a win over Uruguay in the final group stage match. A draw coupled with a Cape Verde win over Saudi Arabia would create a three-way tie atop the group.

Uruguay

Can clinch first place in Group H with a win over Spain and a Cape Verde loss or draw.

Cape Verde

Can rise to second place in Group H with a win over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay's defeat to Spain.

Saudi Arabia

Can rise to third in Group H with a win over Cape Verde and Uruguay's defeat to Spain.

Group H schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Mon, June 15	Spain 0, Cape Verde 0	FINAL
Mon, June 15	Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1	FINAL
Sun, June 21	Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0	FINAL
Sun, June 21	Uruguay 2, Cape Verde 2	6 p.m.
Fri, June 26	Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia	8 p.m.
Fri, June 26	Uruguay vs. Spain	8 p.m.

---

World Cup Group I standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. France - Q	9	3	3	0	0	10	2	+8
2. Norway - Q	6	3	2	1	0	8	7	+1
3. Senegal	3	3	1	2	0	8	6	-2
4. Iraq - E	0	3	0	3	0	1	12	-11

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

France

France qualified for the knockout round with a 3-0 victory over Iraq and clinched first place by beating Norway.

Norway

Norway qualified for the knockout round with a 3-2 victory over Senegal, but a loss to France sent the Vikings through in second.

Senegal

A 5-0 thrashing of Iraq boosted their hopes of going through as one of the best third-place teams.

Iraq

Eliminated with zero points.

Group I schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Tue, June 16	France 3, Senegal 1	FINAL
Tue, June 16	Norway 4, Iraq 1	FINAL
Mon, June 22	France 3,  Iraq 0	FINAL
Mon, June 22	Norway 3, Senegal 2	FINAL
Fri, June 26	Norway 1, France 4	FINAL
Fri, June 26	Senegal 5, Iraq 0	FINAL

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World Cup Group J standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. Argentina - Q	6	2	2	0	0	5	0	+5
2. Austria	3	2	1	1	0	3	3	0
3. Algeria	3	2	1	1	0	2	4	-2
4. Jordan	0	2	0	2	0	2	5	-3

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Argentina

Won Group J and qualified for the knockout rounds after beating Austria 2-0 and Jordan's loss to Algeria

Austria

Will qualify for Round of 32 with a win or draw against Jordan in the final group match.

Algeria

Will qualify for Round of 32 with a win against Austria in the final group match. If Algeria loses, it will come down to third-place tiebreakers.

Jordan

Eliminated with 2-1 loss to Algeria

Group J schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Tue, June 16	Argentina 3, Algeria 0	FINAL
Tue, June 16	Austria 3, Jordan 1	FINAL
Mon, June 22	Argentina 2, Austria 0	FINAL
Mon, June 22	Algeria 2, Jordan 1	FINAL
Sat, June 27	Algeria vs. Austria	10 p.m.
Sat, June 27	Jordan vs. Argentina	10 p.m.

---

World Cup Group K standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. Colombia - Q	6	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3
2. Portugal	4	2	1	0	1	6	1	+5
3. DR Congo	1	2	0	1	1	1	2	-1
4. Uzbekistan	0	2	0	2	0	1	8	-7

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

Portugal

Will qualify as group winners if they defeat Colombia on matchday three.

Colombia

Has qualified to Round of 32. If Colombia draws/wins against Portugal in the final group-stage game, they win the group. 

DR Congo

Can qualify for the Round of 32 as a third-place team, or finish second in Group K if they outscore Portugal by 6+ goals in final match against Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan

Must beat DR Congo to have a chance of qualifying as a third-place team.

Group K schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Wed, June 17	Portugal 1, DR Congo 1	FINAL
Wed, June 17	Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1	FINAL
Tue, June 23	Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0	FINAL
Tue, June 23	Colombia 1, DR Congo 0	FINAL
Sat, June 27	Colombia vs. Portugal	7:30 p.m.
Sat, June 27	DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan	7:30 p.m.

---

World Cup Group L standings and scenarios

TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD

1. England	4	2	1	0	1	4	2	+2
2. Ghana	4	2	1	0	1	1	0	+1
3. Croatia	3	2	1	1	0	3	4	-1
4. Panama - E	0	2	0	2	0	0	2	-2

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
• E = Eliminated

England

Will qualify with a win over Panama in final group match.

Ghana

Will qualify with win over Croatia in final group match.

Croatia

Will qualify with win over Ghana in final group match.

Panama

Were eliminated with los to Croatia

Group L schedule, results

Date	Match	Time (ET)
Wed, June 17	England 4, Croatia 2	FINAL
Wed, June 17	Ghana 1, Panama 0	FINAL
Tue, June 23	England 0, Ghana 0	4 p.m.
Tue, June 23	Croatia 1, Panama 0	7 p.m.
Sat, June 27	Panama vs. England	5 p.m.
Sat, June 27	Croatia vs. Ghana	5 p.m.

World Cup 2026 group stage tiebreakers

1. Total goals scored: whichever team scores the most goals in the group stage.
2. Head-to-head points: most points in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
3. Head-to-head goal difference: the highest margin of goals scored/against in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
4. Head-to-head goals scored: most goals in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
5. Highest team conduct score: a score that is diminished as team players/personnel get carded.
6. Higher FIFA/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking: the team with the higher international team rank will move on. If the teams somehow have the same ranking, the most recent past edition of the rankings will be examined.