World Cup 2026 knockout round tracker: Every team’s path to the Round of 32 entering the final group matches

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Yahoo Sports StaffWed, June 24, 2026 at 6:08 PM UTC·12 min read

The 2026 World Cup group stage is entering its final round of matches and the knockout picture is getting clearer.

There will be 32 teams advancing to the knockout round following the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance along with the eight best third-place teams.

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Several teams have already clinched spots in the knockout round, including the U.S. men's national team and Mexico. Others have seen their World Cup campaigns come to a bitter end after playing just two matches. The rest will spend the next few days calculating scenarios as they fight for one of the remaining places in the Round of 32.

World Cup schedule | Group schedule, results | Standings

Here's where every group stands heading into the final matchday, including who's through, who's eliminated and what each team needs to advance.

Group A

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Mexico	2	0	0	3	3	-5	6
2	South Korea	1	0	1	0	2	-3	3
3	Czechia	0	1	1	-1	2	-1	1
4	South Africa	0	1	1	-2	1	-12	1

Qualified: Mexico
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Czechia vs. Mexico (Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET, Fox)
South Africa vs. South Korea (Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET, FS1)

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Mexico secured first place in the group and will face a third-place team in the Round of 32.

For South Korea, a win or draw against South Africa sends it through as the group runner-up.

Czechia needs a win over Mexico and help from South Africa. If Czechia wins and South Africa beats South Korea, second place could come down to goal difference.

South Africa also has a path to second place. A win over South Korea combined with a Czechia draw or loss would send South Africa through. If both South Africa and Czechia win, goal difference could determine which team advances.

Bottom line: South Korea advances with a draw. Czechia and South Africa both need a win and favorable results elsewhere.

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Group B

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Canada	1	1	0	6	7	-3	4
2	Switzerland	1	1	0	3	5	-2	4
3	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0	1	1	-3	2	-9	1
4	Qatar	0	1	1	-6	1	-11	1

Qualified: None
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Switzerland vs. Canada (Wednesday, 3, p.m. ET, Fox)
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar (Wednesday, 3, p.m. ET, FS1)

Canada and Switzerland enter the final matchday level on four points and will meet in Vancouver with first place in Group B at stake.

Canada will advance to the Round of 32 with a win or draw and would secure first place by avoiding defeat. Switzerland will also advance with a win or draw and would win the group with a victory.

The winner of Group B will remain in Vancouver for the Round of 32, while the runner-up will travel to Los Angeles. That gives Canada a chance to keep playing in front of its home fans.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar remain alive mathematically but need a win, help elsewhere and a massive goal-difference swing to climb into the top two.

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Bottom line: Canada can secure a knockout-round berth and stay in Vancouver with a win or draw against Switzerland.

Group C

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Brazil	1	1	0	3	4	-3	4
2	Morocco	1	1	0	1	2	-1	4
3	Scotland	1	0	1	0	1	-4	3
4	Haiti	0	0	2	-4	0	-4	0

Qualified: None
Eliminated: Haiti
Remaining matches

Scotland vs. Brazil (Wednesday, 6 p.m. ET, Fox)
Morocco vs. Haiti (Wednesday, 6 p.m. ET, FS1)

First place in Group C remains up for grabs.

Brazil can secure the group with a win over Scotland. Morocco advances with a win or draw against Haiti and can also finish first by making up the goal difference on Brazil.

Scotland can clinch a spot in the Round of 32 with a victory over Brazil and could even leap to first place if Morocco drops points. A draw could also be enough, though Scotland would need help.

Bottom line: Brazil and Morocco are chasing first place, while Scotland can secure a knockout-round berth with a win over Brazil.

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Group D

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	USA	2	0	0	5	6	-4	6
2	Australia	1	0	1	0	2	-4	3
3	Paraguay	1	0	1	-2	2	-11	3
4	Türkiye	0	0	2	-3	0	-3	0

Qualified: USA
Eliminated: Türkiye
Remaining matches

Türkiye vs. United States (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET, Fox)
Paraguay vs. Australia (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET, FS1)

The United States has already wrapped up first place in Group D and will face a third-place team in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1 in Santa Clara, California.

Australia can secure the group's second automatic berth with a win or draw against Paraguay. Paraguay needs a victory to guarantee a top-two finish, though the South Americans are also in a decent position to advance as a third-place team.

The Group D runner-up will face the second-place team from Group G in the Round of 32.

Bottom line: The U.S. has won the group, while Australia and Paraguay will meet with second place on the line.

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Group E

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Germany	2	0	0	7	9	0	6
2	Ivory Coast	1	0	1	0	2	-3	3
3	Ecuador	0	1	1	-1	0	-2	1
4	Curaçao	0	1	1	-6	1	-5	1

Qualified: Germany
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast (Thursday, 4 p.m. ET, FS1)
Ecuador vs. Germany (Thursday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox)

Germany has already clinched first place in Group E and a Round of 32 matchup with a third-place team.

Ivory Coast can secure second place with a win over Curaçao and would also advance with a draw unless Ecuador beats Germany by at least two goals.

Ecuador still has a chance to finish second but needs a big win over Germany and help from Curaçao. Curaçao remains alive as well, though it needs a win and a major goal-difference swing.

Bottom line: Germany is through, and Ivory Coast enters the final matchday with a clear path to the Round of 32.

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Group F

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Netherlands	1	1	0	4	7	-3	4
2	Japan	1	1	1	4	6	0	4
3	Sweden	1	0	1	0	6	-3	3
4	Tunisia	0	0	2	-8	1	-1	0

Qualified: None
Eliminated: Tunisia
Remaining matches

Japan vs. Sweden (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET, FS1)
Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET, Fox)

The Netherlands enters the final matchday atop Group F on goal differential, though first place and both automatic berths remain up for grabs for all three contenders.

Japan can clinch a spot in the Round of 32 with a win or draw against Sweden. Sweden needs a victory to secure a top-two finish, while the Netherlands can guarantee advancement with a win over Tunisia and remains in strong position regardless.

Bottom line: Japan needs only a draw, Sweden needs a win and the Netherlands remains well positioned to advance and finish first.

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Group G

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Egypt	1	1	0	2	4	-3	4
2	Iran	0	2	0	0	2	-2	2
3	Belgium	0	2	0	0	1	-7	2
4	New Zealand	0	1	1	-2	3	-7	1

Qualified: None
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Egypt vs. Iran (Friday, 11 p.m. ET, FS1)
New Zealand vs. Belgium (Friday, 11 p.m. ET, Fox)

Egypt enters the final matchday with first place in Group G within reach. A win over Iran guarantees both a spot in the Round of 32 and the group title.

Belgium needs a win over New Zealand and an Egypt victory to guarantee a spot in the knockout round, while Iran also needs a win and help from Belgium. New Zealand must beat Belgium to stay alive.

Bottom line: Egypt can clinch the group with a win, while Belgium and Iran need victories and favorable results elsewhere to join the Pharaohs in the knockout round.

Group H

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Spain	1	1	0	4	4	-1	4
2	Uruguay	0	2	0	0	3	-2	2
3	Cape Verde	0	2	0	0	2	-3	2
4	Saudi Arabia	0	1	1	-4	1	-3	1

Qualified: None
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, FS1)
Uruguay vs. Spain (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox)

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Spain enters the final matchday in strong position and can clinch first place in the group with a win over Uruguay. A draw would also likely be enough.

Cape Verde and Uruguay are both in position to claim the second automatic berth. Cape Verde advances with a win and can also move on with a draw if Spain beats Uruguay. Uruguay advances with a win and could also go through with a draw if Cape Verde fails to win.

Saudi Arabia is alive but likely needs a victory over Cape Verde and help elsewhere.

Bottom line: Spain is close to wrapping up Group H, while Cape Verde and Uruguay are battling for the other automatic spot.

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Group I

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	France	2	0	0	5	6	0	6
2	Norway	2	0	0	4	7	0	6
3	Senegal	0	0	2	-3	3	0	0
4	Iraq	0	0	2	-6	1	-2	0

Qualified: France, Norway
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Norway vs. France (Friday, 3 p.m. ET, Fox)
Senegal vs. Iraq (Friday, 3 p.m. ET, FS1)

France and Norway have already clinched spots in the Round of 32, but first place in Group I remains at stake. The winner of Friday's showdown will claim the group and earn a more favorable knockout-round path.

Senegal and Iraq will meet with third place and a possible berth still on the line. The loser will go home.

Bottom line: France and Norway are through, but first place is still up for grabs, while Senegal and Iraq are fighting to stay alive as a third-place team.

Group J

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Argentina	2	0	0	5	5	-2	6
2	Austria	1	0	1	0	3	-3	3
3	Algeria	1	0	1	-2	2	-1	0
4	Jordan	0	0	2	-3	2	-1	0

Qualified: Argentina
Eliminated: Jordan
Remaining matches

Jordan vs. Argentina (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, Fox)
Algeria vs. Austria (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, FS1)

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Argentina has already advanced and secured first place in Group J and will face the Group J runners-up on July 3 in Miami.

Algeria and Austria will meet with second place on the line. The winner will advance, while a draw could leave both teams waiting to see where they stand among the best third-place finishers.

Bottom line: Argentina has won the group, while Algeria and Austria face off for second place.

Group K

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	Colombia	2	0	0	3	4	-3	6
2	Portugal	1	1	0	5	6	-4	4
3	Congo DR	0	1	1	-1	1	-2	1
4	Uzbekistan	0	0	2	-7	1	-2	1

Qualified: Colombia
Eliminated: None
Remaining matches

Colombia vs. Portugal (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1)

Colombia sits atop Group K after beating DR Congo and has already reached the Round of 32. A win or draw against Portugal secures first place.

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Portugal remains well positioned to advance and would clinch a spot in the Round of 32 with a draw against Colombia.

DR Congo and Uzbekistan are still alive, but both need a win in their head-to-head meeting and likely help elsewhere to avoid relying on a third-place berth.

Bottom line: Colombia and Portugal are in command, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan enter the final matchday needing a result to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Group L

		W	D	L	GD	GF	TCS	Pts
1	England	1	1	0	2	4	-1	4
2	Ghana	1	1	0	1	1	-2	4
3	Croatia	1	0	1	-1	3	-1	3
4	Panama	0	0	2	-2	0	-3	0

Qualified: None
Eliminated: Panama
Remaining matches

Panama vs. England (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, Fox)
Croatia vs. Ghana (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, FS1)

The top two spots in Group L remains up for grabs heading into the final matchday.

England enters the finale atop the standings on goal differential, but Ghana and Croatia are close behind. England can secure the group with a win over Panama, while Ghana and Croatia will meet with a place in the Round of 32 and potentially first place on the line. Even the loser could remain alive in the race for one of the eight third-place berths.

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Panama has been eliminated, but could still play spoiler against England.

Bottom line: England, Ghana and Croatia are all still in the hunt for first place, while Panama's role is that of spoiler.

How World Cup group stage ties are broken

The top two teams in each group automatically advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-place teams. If teams finish level on points, FIFA breaks ties using the following criteria: