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Russian (RU) 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
World Cup bracket 2026 (group stage)
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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 | 3 | +3 | |||
2. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||
3. | Czechia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | |
4. | 1 | 2 | 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. | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | +6 | ||
2. | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | ||
3. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | |
4. | 1 | 2 | 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
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
1. | United States - Q | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | +5 | ||
2. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||
3. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | ||
4. | Turkey - E | 2 | 2 | 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
1. Germany - Q | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 | +7 | ||
2. Ivory Coast | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
3. Ecuador | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | |||
4. Curacao | 2 | 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
1. Netherlands | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | |
2. Japan | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | |
2. Sweden | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||
4. Tunisia | 2 | 2 | 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
1. Iran | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||
2. New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||
3. Belgium | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
4. Egypt | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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.
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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 vs. Iran | 3 p.m. |
Sun, June 21 | New Zealand vs. Egypt | 9 p.m. |
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
1. Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
2. Saudi Arabia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
3. Spain | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
4. Cape Verde | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 15 | Spain 0, Cape Verde 0 | FINAL |
Mon, June 15 | Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1 | FINAL |
Sun, June 21 | Spain vs. Saudi Arabia | 12 p.m. |
Sun, June 21 | Uruguay vs. Cape Verde | 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
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.
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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 vs. Iraq | 5 p.m. |
Mon, June 22 | Norway vs. Senegal | 8 p.m. |
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
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 16 | Argentina 3, Algeria 0 | FINAL |
Tue, June 16 | Austria 3, Jordan 1 | FINAL |
Mon, June 22 | Argentina vs. Austria | 1 p.m. |
Mon, June 22 | Jordan vs. Algeria | 11 p.m. |
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
1. Colombia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | ||
2. DR Congo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
3. Portugal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
4. Uzbekistan | 1 | 3 | -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.
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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
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 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.
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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.
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