World Cup 2026: third-place race, who has qualified and who needs what?
The Tartan Army march on Ocean Drive in Miami ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 group match against Brazil on Wednesday. Picture date: Tuesday June 23, 2026.
Teams level on points are separated, in order, by head-to-head points; head-to-head goal difference; head-to-head goals scored; overall goal difference; overall goals scored; disciplinary points; Fifa ranking.
The top two in each group qualify along with the eight best third-placed sides.
Argentina, France, Germany, Mexico, Norway, the USA and Colombia.
Haiti, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey and Panama.
The eight best third-placed teams qualify for the last 32 based on a ranking that, in order, takes into account: points, goal difference, goals scored, fair-play status and Fifa ranking. Five points will definitely be enough to qualify, given results so far.
1 Sweden 3pts (6-6) 0GD (two games played)
2 Scotland 3pts (1-1) 0GD (two games)
3 Croatia 3pts (3-4) -1GD (two games)
4 Algeria 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games) Team conduct -1
5 Paraguay 3pts (2-4) -2GD (two games) Team conduct -11
6 Cape Verde 2pts (2-2) 0GD (two games)
7 Belgium 2pts (1-1) 0GD (two games)
8 Czechia 1pt (2-3) -1GD (two games)
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9 DR Congo 1pt (1-2) -1GD (two games)
10 Ecuador 1pt (0-1) -1GD (two games)
11 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1pt (2-5) -3GD (two games)
12 Senegal 0pt (3-6) -3GD (two games)
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Mexico are through as group winners and will face a third-placed team from Group C, E, F, H or I. South Korea could match their points total but Mexico beat them so would be top on head-to-head.
South Korea would guarantee qualification with a win or draw against South Africa.
Czechia would progress in second if they beat Mexico, South Africa beat South Korea and they ultimately finish above South Africa. Should the win and finish third they may have a route.
South Africa progress in second if they beat South Korea and ultimately finish above Czechia. Should the win and finish third they may have a route.
Mexico v Czechia, South Africa v South Korea.
How things stand heading into the final group stage matchday. 🔢#FIFAWorldCup
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Canada would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Switzerland.
Switzerland would guarantee qualification with a win or a draw against Canada.
The best Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar can realistically aim for when facing each other is a thumping victory, and with it a shot at one of the third-placed qualification places.
Switzerland v Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina v Qatar.
Brazil would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Scotland.
Morocco would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Haiti.
Scotland would progress with a win against Brazil. A draw would at best leave them behind Morocco on head-to-head but four points with a level goal difference would mean a good chance of qualifying in third, albeit teams in later-finishing groups would know what they had to beat.
Haiti are eliminated.
Scotland v Brazil, Morocco v Haiti.
USA are through as winners and will face a third-placed team from Groups B, E, F, I or J.
Australia would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Paraguay.
Paraguay need to beat Australia to be sure, but a draw would give them a chance of qualifying in third.
Turkey are eliminated.
Turkey v USA, Paraguay v Australia.
Germany are through as group winners and will now face a third-placed team from Groups A, B, C, D or F.
Côte d’Ivoire need a point against Curaçao to guarantee qualification.
Ecuador need to beat Germany to have at least a third-place route and hope Curaçao defeat Côte d’Ivoire to finish second.
Curaçao need to beat Côte d’Ivoire to have at least a third-place route and hope Germany win or draw against Ecuador to finish second.
Curaçao v Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador v Germany.
The Netherlands would guarantee qualification with a win or a draw against Tunisia.
Japan would qualify with a draw or win against Sweden.
Sweden need to beat Japan to guarantee qualification, though a draw would give them a level goal difference with a high goals scored tally so a good chance of a third-place route.
Tunisia are eliminated.
Tunisia v Netherlands, Japan v Sweden.
Egypt would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Iran.
Iran would guarantee qualification with a win against Egypt.
Belgium would guarantee qualification with a win against New Zealand.
New Zealand need to beat Belgium to have a third-place route and hope Iran fail to beat Egypt to finish second.
Egypt v Iran, New Zealand v Belgium.
Spain would guarantee qualification with a draw or win against Uruguay.
Uruguay need to beat Spain to guarantee qualification. A draw would give them a slim chance of a third-place route but this may be clearer by time they play.
Cape Verde will progress if they beat Saudi Arabia. A draw would give them a slim chance of a third-place route but this may be clearer by time they play.
Saudi Arabia need to beat Cape Verde to have at least a third-place route and Uruguay to fail to win against Spain to take second.
Uruguay v Spain, Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia.
France and Norway have qualified for the last 32.
Senegal and Iraq facing each other both know they must win to stand any chance of progressing as one of the best eight third-placed teams, but need favours elsewhere to make three points sufficient.
Norway v France, Senegal v Iraq.
Argentina are through as group winners and will face the runners-up from Group H in the last 32.
Austria would progress with a win or a draw against Algeria.
Algeria would reach the last 32 if they beat Austria.
Group J is the last group to finish and so Austria and Algeria may be in position to know they could qualify in third with a narrow defeat, or in Algeria’s case if a draw would be sufficient.
Jordan are eliminated.
Algeria v Austria, Jordan v Argentina.
Colombia have qualified and will top the group if they avoid defeat by Portugal.
Portugal qualify if they avoid defeat against Colombia and with four points and a strong goal difference would have to lose heavily to miss out on a third-place route.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) need to beat Uzbekistan to keep their hopes alive but as one of the last groups to kick off would probably know how many goals they needed to win by for a third-place route, or if any win would be sufficient.
Uzbekistan will need to beat the DRC by a big margin to retain an interest in the tournament and will be eliminated by the time if too many groups have third-placed teams with four points.
Colombia v Portugal, Democratic Republic of the Congo v Uzbekistan
England qualify if they avoid defeat against Panama.
Ghana qualify if they avoid defeat against Croatia.
Croatia need to beat Ghana to be sure of qualifying and may have a third-place route with a draw.
Panama have been eliminated.
England v Panama, Croatia v Ghana
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