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

Story byDom FarrellTue, June 23, 2026 at 1:18 PM UTC·14 min read

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.

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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

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World Cup Group A standings and scenarios

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

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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	Czechia vs. Mexico	9 p.m.
Fri, June 24	South Africa vs. South Korea	9 p.m.

World Cup Group B standings and scenarios

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

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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 vs. Canada	3 p.m.
Fri, June 24	Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar	3 p.m.

World Cup Group C standings and scenarios

Pos	Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1.	Brazil	4	2	1	0	1	4	1	+3
2.	Morocco	4	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1
3.	Scotland	3	2	1	1	0	1	1	0
4.	Haiti - E	0	2	0	2	0	0	4	-4

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage

• E = Eliminated

Morocco

Will be through with a win or draw in their final group stage match against Haiti.

Scotland

Will be through to the knockout rounds with a victory in final group stage match against Brazil

Haiti

Eliminated with 3-0 loss to Brazil

Brazil

Will get through with draw or win vs. Scotland

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	Scotland vs. Brazil	6 p.m.
Wed, June 24	Morocco vs. Haiti	6 p.m.

World Cup Group D standings and scenarios

Pos	Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1.	United States - Q	6	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5
2.	Australia	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.

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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 vs. United States	10 p.m.
Thu, June 25	Paraguay vs. Australia	10 p.m.

World Cup Group E standings and scenarios

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1. Germany - Q	6	2	2	0	0	9	2	+7
2. Ivory Coast	3	2	1	1	0	2	2	0
3. Ecuador	0	2	0	1	1	0	1	-1
4. Curacao	0	2	0	1	1	1	7	-6

• 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

Will qualify with win or tie vs. Curacao

Ecuador

Will be eliminated if they lose to Ivory Coast

Curacao 

Will be eliminated if Ivory Coast beats or ties Curacao

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 vs. Ivory Coast	4 p.m.
Thu, June 25	Ecuador vs. Germany	4 p.m.

World Cup Group F standings and scenarios

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1. Netherlands	4	2	1	0	1	7	3	+4
2. Japan	4	2	1	0	1	6	2	+4
2. Sweden	3	2	1	1	0	6	6	0
4. Tunisia	0	2	0	2	0	1	9	-8

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage

• E = Eliminated

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Sweden

Will qualify to knockout stage if they beat Japan in their final match.

Tunisia

Will be eliminated if they lose to Japan and the Netherlands beat Sweden.

Netherlands

Will clinch a knockout stage position if the Netherlands wins against Tunisia in their final group-stage match.

Japan

Must beat either Tunisia and/or Sweden in their final two group-stage matches.

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 vs. Sweden	6 p.m.
Thu, June 25	Tunisia vs. Netherlands	6 p.m.

World Cup Group G standings and scenarios

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
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.

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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

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
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.

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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

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1. France - Q	6	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5
2. Norway - Q	6	2	2	0	0	7	3	+4
3. Senegal	0	2	0	2	0	3	5	-2
4. Iraq	0	2	0	2	0	1	7	-6

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage

• E = Eliminated

France

France qualified for the knockout round with a 3-0 victory over Iraq. It will clinch first place in the group with a win or draw against Norway in the final match.

Norway

Norway qualified for the knockout round with a 3-2 victory over Senegal. It can clinch first place in the group with a win against France in the final match.

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Iraq

Will be eliminated with a loss or draw in final game

Sengal

Will be eliminated with a draw or loss to Iraq in final game

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 vs. France	3 p.m.
Fri, June 26	Senegal vs. Iraq	3 p.m.

World Cup Group J standings and scenarios

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
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

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1. Colombia	3	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
2. DR Congo	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	0
3. Portugal	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	0
4. Uzbekistan	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	-2

• Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage

• E = Eliminated

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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 17	Portugal 1, DR Congo 1	FINAL
Wed, June 17	Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1	FINAL
Tue, June 23	Portugal vs. Uzbekistan	1 p.m.
Tue, June 23	Colombia vs. DR Congo	10 p.m.
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

Team	PTS	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
1. England	3	1	1	0	0	4	2	+2
2. Ghana	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
3. Panama	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	-1
4. Croatia	0	1	0	1	0	2	4	-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.

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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 vs. Ghana	4 p.m.
Tue, June 23	Panama vs. Croatia	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

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.

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.

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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.