2026 World Cup: How teams can advance to the knockout rounds

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup is nearing its conclusion, and the knockout round bracket is taking shape.

The creation of a round of 32, and the eight best third-place teams out of 12 advancing as a result, has made it much harder to project teams’ paths through the World Cup. Nonetheless, teams are clinching places in the knockout rounds, while others have had their dreams of making it out of the group stage shattered.

QUALIFIED: Mexico, United States, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Cape Verde, Paraguay, Egypt, Portugal, England, Ghana, Belgium

TBC: Algeria, Austria, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Croatia, South Korea, Iran, Senegal, Scotland

ELIMINATED: Haiti, Türkiye, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, Czechia, Curaçao, Iraq, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand

According to FIFA, the tiebreakers if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage are as follows:

Step one
– Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head)
– Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head)
– Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head)

Step two (if still equal)
– Superior goal difference in all group matches
– Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
– Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained

Step three (if still equal)
– Ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking

How will the best third-place teams be determined? Similar to the aforementioned tiebreakers, the third-place teams in the group stage will be ranked by these criteria, in order:

1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Team conduct score
5. FIFA world ranking

There are 495 different combinations for which team faces which from the third-place sides, and though the number of combinations still possible is steadily shrinking, it’s hard to say what the matchups will be until all the group games are complete.

However, the possible third-place permutations remaining are as follows:

Winner A (Mexico) vs. Third place from C, E
Winner B (Switzerland) vs. Third place from G, J
Winner D (U.S.) vs. Third place from B (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Winner E (Germany) vs. Third place from D (Paraguay)
Winner G (Belgium) vs. Third place from A, I, J
Winner I (France) vs. Third place from F (Sweden)
Winner K (Colombia/Portugal) vs. Third place from E, I, L
Winner L (England/Ghana/Croatia) vs. Third place from I, K, J

Here’s what’s at stake over the next few days of action.

– World Cup match schedule: Fixtures, results, features
– Knockout bracket for round of 32 and beyond

Jump to: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E,
Group F, Group G, Group H, Group I, Group J, Group K, Group L

What’s at stake today

GROUP J

Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Argentina defeated Austria on the back of Lionel Messi‘s record-breaking brace, and have now qualified for the round of 32. Algeria‘s 2-1 win against Jordan later on Monday saw Argentina win the group and knocked Jordan out.

Austria remain in strong position to advance despite the loss. A win or draw in their final group stage match against Algeria would seal a round-of-32 spot, and a draw would more than likely do the same. Algeria need to win to claim second spot, but a draw would get them a third-place spot.

In the round of 32, Argentina will face Cape Verde, while runner-ups Algeria or Austria will play Spain.

Next fixtures:
June 27: Jordan vs. Argentina (Dallas), 10 p.m. ET; Algeria vs. Austria (Kansas City), 10 p.m. ET

GROUP K

Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia

All four teams in Group K will have something to play for in the final matchday of the group stage.

Colombia are through and in pole position to top the group after their 1-0 win over Congo DR on Tuesday, but will have to beat or draw vs. Portugal on Saturday to ensure progression as group winners.

Portugal need to win to take top seeding off Colombia, although their 5-0 thumping of Uzbekistan means that they’re unlikely to slip lower than second if they don’t pip Luis Díaz & Co.

Congo DR and Uzbekistan both have a fighting chance of making it through to the knockouts — most likely as a third-placed team. However, victory will be essential: three points for the African nation would see them progress, while the Uzbeks need to win (and likely win big), to erase their minus-7 goal difference. A draw eliminates both teams.

Next fixtures:
June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal (Miami Gardens, Fla.), 7:30 p.m. ET; Congo DR vs. Uzbekistan (Atlanta Stadium), 7:30 p.m. ET

GROUP L

England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday delayed their automatic progression into the next round, but results elsewhere mean they have confirmed a spot in the knockouts. The Three Lions will secure top spot if they can beat Panama on Saturday.

Croatia and Ghana will likely be battling it out for second in their final group match, and the winners will jump above Thomas Tuchel’s side if England don’t win. Ghana have already qualified for the knockout round, by virtue of their four points earned. A draw will almost certainly be enough for Croatia to progress as a third-place team, but they will be in danger of leaving the World Cup early if they suffer defeat to Ghana and Algeria or DR Congo win.

Panama are already eliminated with one game still to play. Denting England’s campaign by denying them top spot, however, could serve as motivation for Thomas Christiansen’s side.

In the round of 32, the Group L winner will face a third-place team from Group K, I or J, while the runner-up will play the runner-up of Group K (Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia).

Next fixtures:
June 27: Panama vs. England (East Rutherford, N.J.), 5 p.m. ET; Croatia vs. Ghana (Philadelphia), 5 p.m. ET

Group-by-group permutations

GROUP A

Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

Mexico had already sealed top spot in Group A, but Wednesday’s 3-0 demolition of Czechia confirmed the co-hosts’ status as one of the form teams in the tournament. A game against a third-place team from Group C or E in the round of 32 awaits.

Coming second in the group was — amazingly — South Africa. Bafana Bafana began the day in fourth place, but Thapelo Maseko‘s 63rd-minute strike catapulted Hugo Broos’ side above their opponents South Korea and into the knockout stages for the very first time. South Africa will play the runners-up of Group B, Canada, in the round of 32.

South Korea now face a nervous wait to see if they will progress as one of the best third-place teams. A goal difference of minus-1 should have them qualify, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that their tournament is over.

Czechia began the day with dreams of scraping into the next round, but will instead head home to Europe with a lone point to their names and a minus-4 goal difference.

GROUP B

Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Switzerland defeated Canada to clinch first place in the group, and a round-of-32 matchup with a third-place team from one of multiple possible groups (E/G/I/J).

Canada finished in second place as a result. They will play the runner-up of Group A, South Africa. If Canada had won the group, they would’ve had the benefit of playing their round-of-32 game in front of their fans in Vancouver. Instead, they’ll head to Los Angeles to start the knockout rounds.

Late on Wednesday, Bosnia and Herzegovina became first third-place team to qualify for the knockout rounds. With four points and a goal differential of minus-1, results in Groups A and C — plus how other groups stand — means that the Zmajevi can’t fall out of the top eight in the third-place table. They will play the United States in the round of 32.

Qatar have been eliminated from the World Cup as a result.

GROUP C

Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Brazil defeated Scotland and won the group. They will now face the runner-up of Group F, Japan, in the round of 32.

Morocco qualified in second place and will face Netherlands in the next round.

Scotland are now in a precarious position, having lost out on automatic qualification by finishing third. Their total of three points and goal differential of minus-3 are not stellar, and they will need results to go their way over the next few days if they are to advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

Haiti had already been eliminated, despite their resilient display vs. Morocco in their final group-stage match.

GROUP D

United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye

The United States had already sewn up top spot in Group D, so Thursday’s 3-2 loss to Türkiye had no real effect on the tournament co-hosts, although head coach Mauricio Pochettino will have plenty to ponder ahead of the knockout rounds. The USMNT will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco in the round of 32.

Australia and Paraguay battled to a 0-0 draw in the group’s other match, meaning that the Socceroos will progress in second spot. Tony Popovic’s side will now face the second-place finisher from Group G in Dallas on July 3.

With four points and a goal difference of minus-2, Paraguay will almost certainly progress as one of the best third-place teams and will likely face Germany.

Türkiye were already eliminated ahead of their game against the U.S., and will head home wondering where their form from Thursday was during their first two matches.

GROUP E

Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Germany had already locked up first place entering the final round of matches, so their 2-1 loss to Ecuador had no impact. They will play Paraguay in the round of 32.

But that result was massive for Ecuador, who salvaged their World Cup with the win. Anything less, and they would have been out of the tournament. They finished third in the group and will face a group winner in the round of 32.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast defeated Curaçao and sealed second place in the group. They are set to face the runner-up of Group I, which will be Norway.

Curaçao have been eliminated, but the World Cup debutants can hold their heads high after their unexpected draw against Ecuador in Matchweek 2.

GROUP F

Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Netherlands defeated Tunisia in the final matchweek to win the group. They will face Group C runners-up Morocco in the round of 32.

Japan sealed second place with a draw with Sweden, and are now set to face Group C winners Brazil.

Despite finishing third, Sweden are safely through to the knockout rounds with four points. They are likely to face France, though that will depend on which third-place teams ultimately go through.

Tunisia have been knocked out of the World Cup.

GROUP G

Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

A mad-cap night saw the top two places in Group G switch a staggering seven times over the course of the evening, and three times in the final 10 minutes of the two games.

In the end, Belgium‘s thumping 5-1 win over New Zealand was enough to seal top spot, while Egypt clung on to a 1-1 draw with Iran thanks to a late VAR call of offside to deny Team Melli second place.

That means that Kevin De Bryune and Co. will face a third-place team from one of a few possible groups (most likely South Korea from Group A, but also maybe Senegal from I or Austria/Algeria from J), while Egypt will take on Group D runners-up Australia in Dallas, Texas, on July 3.

Iran will most likely make it through to the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams. With three points and goal difference of 0, Iran are sixth in the third-place table — to be eliminated, every result on Saturday would have to go against them.

New Zealand head home with a solitary point to their name.

GROUP H

Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 on Friday and won the group. They will face the runners-up of Group J (either Austria or Algeria) in the first knockout round.

A third draw in three matches for Cape Verde clinched second place, and have remarkably become the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockouts — in their tournament debut, no less. They’ve earned the right to face Lionel Messi and Argentina in the round of 32.

With only two points to their name, Uruguay cannot finish as one of the top eight third-place teams, so their World Cup comes to a shocking early end.

Saudi Arabia were also eliminated after earning only two points in the group stage.

GROUP I

France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

France won the group and looked convincing in doing so, taking all nine points available and finishing with a plus-8 goal differential. They will take on Sweden in the round of 32.

Norway rotated heavily for their loss to France and settled for second place. They will now head to Dallas to face Yan Diomande and Ivory Coast.

In a win-or-go-home match for the remaining two teams, Senegal were victorious over Iraq by a score of 5-0. The margin of victory puts Senegal in strong position to advance in third place, but qualification (and their opponent in the next round) have yet to be determined.

Iraq have been eliminated.

Round of 32

Bracket

Sunday, June 28:
South Africa vs. Canada (Inglewood, Calif.), noon local / 3 p.m. ET

Monday, June 29:
Brazil vs. Japan (Houston), noon local / 1 p.m. ET
Germany vs. Paraguay (Foxborough, Mass.), 4:30 p.m. ET
Netherlands vs. Morocco (Guadalupe, Mexico), 7 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET

Tuesday, June 30:
Ivory Coast vs. Norway (Arlington, Texas), noon local / 1 p.m. ET
France vs. Sweden (East Rutherford, N.J.), 5 p.m. ET
Mexico vs. Group C/E/F/H/I third place (Mexico City), 7 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET

Wednesday, July 1:
Group L winners vs. Group E/H/I/J/K third place (Atlanta), noon ET
Group G winners vs. Group A/E/H/I/J third place (Seattle), 1 p.m. local / 4 p.m. ET
United States vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina third place (Santa Clara, Calif.), 5 p.m. local / 8 p.m. ET

Thursday, July 2:
Spain vs. Group J runners-up (Inglewood, Calif.), noon local / 3 p.m. ET
Group K runners-up vs. Group L runners-up (Toronto), 7 p.m. ET
Switzerland vs. Group E/F/G/I/J third place (Vancouver, Canada), 8 p.m. local / 11 p.m. ET

Friday, July 3:
Australia vs. Group G runners-up (Arlington, Texas), noon local / 2 p.m. ET
Argentina vs. Cape Verde (Miami Gardens, Fla.), 6 p.m. ET
Group K winners vs. Group D/E/I/J/L third place (Kansas City, Mo.), 8:30 p.m. local / 9:30 p.m. ET