World Cup group scenarios 2026: How teams can qualify and advance to Round of 32 knockout bracket
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World Cup group scenarios 2026: How teams can qualify and advance to Round of 32 knockout bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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.
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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
SN
World Cup Group A standings and scenarios
PosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Mexico - Q6220030+32.South Korea321102203.Czechia1201123-14.South Africa1201113-2- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Mexico
Has qualified as group winner with a win over South Korea
South Korea
Will qualify as second-place team with win or tie vs South Africa
South Africa
Is still alive to qualify as second-placel with win over Mexico and and South Korea loss to Czechia.
Czechia
Is still alive to qualify as second-place with win over South Korea and and South Africa loss or draw to Mexico.
Group A schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Thu, June 11Mexico 2, South Africa 0FINALThu, June 11South Korea 2, Czechia 1FINALThu, June 18Czechia 1, South Africa 1FINALThu, June 18Mexico 1, South Korea 0FINALFri, June 24Czechia vs. Mexico9 p.m.Fri, June 24South Africa vs. South Korea9 p.m.World Cup Group B standings and scenarios
Pos.TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Canada 4210171+62.Switzerland4210152+33.Bosnia and Herzegovina 1201125-34.Qatar 1201117-6- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Canada and Switzerland
Canada and Switzerland are tied atop the group with four points apiece. The two teams are set to face each other next with first place on the line. Switzerland must win to finish atop the group because Canada holds the goal-differential advantage. Canada will secure first place with either a win or a draw.
Bosnia and Qatar
It's not mathematically impossible for either team to finish second in the group, but that would require significant help in the goal-differential tiebreaker. That said, the two countries are set to face each other in the final group-stage match, and the loser still stands a solid chance of advancing as a third-place finisher.
Group B schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Fri, June 12Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 p.m.Sat, June 13Qatar 1, Switzerland 13 p.m.Thu, June 18Switzerland 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 p.m.Thu, June 18Canada 6, Qatar 06 p.m.Fri, June 24Switzerland vs. Canada3 p.m.Fri, June 24Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar3 p.m.World Cup Group C standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Scotland3010010+12. Brazil100011103. Morocco100011104. Haiti0101001-1- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Scotland
Will guarantee a knockout place if they beat Morocco. If Steve Clarke's men secure this result and Brazil fail to beat Haiti they would be confirmed as group winners.
Haiti
Will be eliminated if they lose to Brazil and Morocco beat Scotland.
Morocco and Brazil
Neither can be eliminated nor guaranteed qualification after their opening match finished 1-1.
Group C schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Sat, June 13Brazil 1, Morocco 16 p.m.Sat, June 13Scotland 1, Haiti 09 p.m.Fri, June 19Scotland vs. Morocco6 p.m.Fri, June 19Brazil vs. Haiti8:30 p.m.Wed, June 24Scotland vs. Brazil6 p.m.Wed, June 24Morocco vs. Haiti6 p.m.World Cup Group D standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. United States3110041+32. Australia3110020+23. Turkey0100002-24. Paraguay0101014-3- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
United States
Will qualify as group winners if they defeat Australia and Turkey do not beat Paraguay
Australia
Will qualify as group winners if they defeat the United States and Paraguay do not beat Turkey.
Paraguay
Will be eliminated if they lose to Turkey and Australia avoids defeat against the United States
Turkey
Will be eliminated if they lose to Paraguay and the United States avoids defeat against Australia.
Group D schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Fri, June 12United States 4, Paraguay 19 p.m.Sat, June 13Australia 2, Turkey 012 a.m.Fri, June 19United States vs. Australia3 p.m.Fri, June 19Turkey vs. Paraguay11 p.m.Thu, June 25Turkey vs. United States10 p.m.Thu, June 25Paraguay vs. Australia10 p.m.World Cup Group E standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Germany3110071+62. Ivory Coast3110010+13. Ecuador0101001-14. Curacao0101017-6- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Germany
Will qualify as group winners if they beat the Ivory Coast and Ecuador does not beat Curacao.
Ivory Coast
Will qualify as group winners if they beat Germany and Curacao does not beat Ecuador.
Ecuador
Will be eliminated if they lose to Curacao and Germany avoids defeat against the Ivory Coast
Curacao
Will be eliminated if they lose to Ecuador and the Ivory Coast avoids defeat against Germany.
Group E schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Sun, June 14Germany 7, Curacao 11 p.m.Sun, June 14Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 07 p.m.Sat, June 20Germany vs. Ivory Coast4 p.m.Sat, June 20Ecuador vs. Curacao8 p.m.Thu, June 25Curacao vs. Ivory Coast4 p.m.Thu, June 25Ecuador vs. Germany4 p.m.World Cup Group F standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Sweden3110051+42. Japan110012203. Netherlands110012204. Tunisia0101015-4- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Sweden
Will qualify with a victory over the Netherlands. Will go through as group winners if they beat the Dutch and Japan does not beat Tunisia.
Tunisia
Will be eliminated if they lose to Japan and the Netherlands beat Sweden.
Netherlands and Japan
Neither can be eliminated nor guaranteed qualification after their opening match finished 2-2.
Group F schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Sun, June 14Netherlands 2, Japan 24 p.m.Sun, June 14Sweden 5, Tunisia 110 p.m.Sat, June 20Netherlands vs. Sweden1 p.m.Sat, June 20Tunisia vs. Japan12 a.m.Thu, June 25Japan vs. Sweden6 p.m.Thu, June 25Tunisia vs. Netherlands6 p.m.World Cup Group G standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Iran110012202. New Zealand110012203. Belgium110011104. Egypt11001110- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Iran, New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt
After each game in the first round of matches finished all square, no team can qualify or be eliminated in their second match. Any team that takes at least four points from their next two matches (a win and a draw) will be guaranteed a top-two spot.
Group G schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Mon, June 15Belgium 1, Egypt 13 p.m.Mon, June 15Iran 2, New Zealand 29 p.m.Sun, June 21Belgium vs. Iran3 p.m.Sun, June 21New Zealand vs. Egypt9 p.m.Fri, June 26Egypt vs. Iran11 p.m.Fri, June 26New Zealand vs. Belgium11 p.m.World Cup Group H standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Uruguay110011102. Saudi Arabia110011103. Spain110010004. Cape Verde11001000- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Cape Verde
After each game in the first round of matches finished all square, no team can qualify or be eliminated in their second match. Any team that takes at least four points from their next two matches (a win and a draw) will be guaranteed a top-two spot.
Group H schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Mon, June 15Spain 0, Cape Verde 012 p.m.Mon, June 15Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 16 p.m.Sun, June 21Spain vs. Saudi Arabia12 p.m.Sun, June 21Uruguay vs. Cape Verde6 p.m.Fri, June 26Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia8 p.m.Fri, June 26Uruguay vs. Spain8 p.m.World Cup Group I standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Norway3110041+32. France3110031+23. Senegal0101013-24. Iraq0101014-3- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Norway, France, Senegal and Iraq
Norway and France, as the two winners from the first matches, playing the two defeated teams next means that no qualification or elimination matters can be decisively settled in the forthcoming round of fixtures.
Group I schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Tue, June 16France 3, Senegal 13 p.m.Tue, June 16Norway 4, Iraq 16 p.m.Mon, June 22France vs. Iraq5 p.m.Mon, June 22Norway vs. Senegal8 p.m.Fri, June 26Norway vs. France3 p.m.Fri, June 26Senegal vs. Iraq3 p.m.World Cup Group J standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Argentina3110030+32. Austria3110031+23. Jordan0101013-24. Algeria0101003-3- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Argentina
Will qualify as group winners if they beat Austria and Jordan does not beat Algeria.
Austria
Will qualify as group winners if they beat Argentina and Algeria does not beat Jordan.
Jordan
Will be eliminated if they lose to Algeria and Argentina avoids defeat against Austria.
Algeria
Will be eliminated if they lose to Jordan and the Austria avoids defeat against Argentina.
Group J schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Tue, June 16Argentina 3, Algeria 09 p.m.Tue, June 16Austria 3, Jordan 112 a.m.Mon, June 22Argentina vs. Austria1 p.m.Mon, June 22Jordan vs. Algeria11 p.m.Sat, June 27Algeria vs. Austria10 p.m.Sat, June 27Jordan vs. Argentina10 p.m.World Cup Group K standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Colombia3110031+22. DR Congo110011103. Portugal110011104. Uzbekistan0000013-2- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Colombia
Will qualify as group winners if they beat DR Congo.
DR Congo and Portugal
Neither can be eliminated nor guaranteed qualification after their opening match finished 1-1.
Uzbekistan
Will be eliminated if they lose to Portugal and DR Congo defeats Colombia.
Group K schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Wed, June 17Portugal 1, DR Congo 11 p.m.Wed, June 17Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 110 p.m.Tue, June 23Portugal vs. Uzbekistan1 p.m.Tue, June 23Colombia vs. DR Congo10 p.m.Sat, June 27Colombia vs. Portugal7:30 p.m.Sat, June 27DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan7:30 p.m.World Cup Group L standings and scenarios
TeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. England3110042+22. Ghana3110010+13. Panama0101001-14. Croatia0101024-2- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
England
Will qualify as group winners if they beat Ghana and Croatia defeats Panama.
Ghana
Will qualify as group winners if they beat England and Panama defeats Croatia.
Panama
Will be eliminated if they lose to Croatia and England defeats Ghana.
Croatia
Will be eliminated if they lose to Panama and Ghana defeats England.
Group L schedule, results
Date Match Time (ET)Wed, June 17England 4, Croatia 24 p.m.Wed, June 17Ghana 1, Panama 07 p.m.Tue, June 23England vs. Ghana4 p.m.Tue, June 23Panama vs. Croatia7 p.m.Sat, June 27Panama vs. England5 p.m.Sat, June 27Croatia vs. Ghana5 p.m.World Cup 2026 group stage tiebreakers
When wins, losses and draws alone aren't enough to determine a group's standings, the following tiebreaking procedure will be used. Expect these to come into play as the permutations noted above play out.
Overall goal difference: whichever team has the higher margin between how many goals they score and allow.
- Total goals scored: whichever team scores the most goals in the group stage.
- Head-to-head points: most points in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
- 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.
- Head-to-head goals scored: most goals in group matches when the teams tied in the standings went against each other.
- Highest team conduct score: a score that is diminished as team players/personnel get carded.
- 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.