The 2026 FIFA World Cup will look slightly completely different than earlier installments.
Beginning with the dimensions of the sphere.
For this yr’s World Cup, the sphere expanded to 48 nations, up from the earlier variety of 32. This implies the sphere is split into 12 four-team teams, and it additionally signifies that the knockout stage begins with the spherical of 32, and never the spherical of 16, as in earlier World Cups.
That additionally signifies that groups that end in third place in a gaggle might nonetheless advance.
To finish the spherical of 32, along with the highest two groups from every group, the eight greatest third-place groups will transfer on as effectively.
Right here, we can be monitoring the standings among the many third-place groups.
World Cup third-place standings
Listed here are the most recent third-place standings. Keep in mind, the highest eight advance to the spherical of 32.
Be aware: These are the third-place standings following Egypt-New Zealand on June 21:
Group |
Group |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
TCS |
Factors |
FIFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | F | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | -3 | 3 | 8 |
| Scotland | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -4 | 3 | 42 |
| Paraguay | D | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | -11 | 3 | 22 |
| Cape Verde | H | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -3 | 2 | 67 |
| Belgium | G | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 85 |
| Portugal | Ok | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 1 | 5 |
| Czechia | A | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 40 |
| Ecuador | E | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -2 | 1 | 23 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | B | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | -9 | 1 | 64 |
| Panama | L | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -2 | 0 | 34 |
| Senegal | I | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Jordan | J | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 63 |
How do World Cup third-place tiebreakers work?
Right here is how FIFA will stack the third-place groups for potential tiebreakers:
- First, the best variety of factors in all group matches
- Second, the purpose distinction from all group matches
- Third, the variety of objectives scored in all group matches
- Fourth, a crew’s conduct rating.
If there are nonetheless ties after these 4 steps are utilized, the groups nonetheless equal on factors can be ranked in accordance with the latest FIFA World Rankings.
For extra on the crew conduct rating, together with the present total standings, we’ve you coated right here.
Replace (Sunday June 21): With outcomes from Saturday, Sweden is now the crew atop the third-place standings, adopted by Scotland and Paraguay.
Beforehand: We’ve got a brand new crew atop the third-place standings. With each Brazil and Morocco profitable on Friday, these two groups have moved up into first and second locations, respectively, in Group C. That drops Scotland down into third place in Group C, and sees Scotland transfer to the highest of the third-place standings, as they’ve three factors from a earlier win over Haiti.
Outcomes from Thursday have modified the desk a bit. Now Brazil, Belgium, and Portugal are the three groups tied that performed in 1-1 attracts. As we noticed earlier, Portugal drops out as a result of three yellow playing cards — the crew conduct rating — and Brazil and Belgium are ranked in accordance with their spot within the FIFA rankings. Bosnia and Herzegovina slide into the rankings because of the 2 objectives over three matches, dropping Qatar all the way down to fourth place in Group B (and out of those standings).
Making use of these tiebreakers to a few of the standings you see above, the Netherlands presently sit atop these standings because of that third tiebreaker, and the 2 objectives they scored towards Japan.
Then we will have a look at the 4 groups that performed in 1-1 attracts: Brazil, Belgium, Qatar, and Portugal. The subsequent tiebreaker, following factors, purpose distinction, and objectives scored, is the crew conduct rating. These first three groups every have two yellow playing cards, whereas Portugal secured three yellow playing cards of their 1-1 draw with DR Congo. So Portugal drops out, and the opposite three stay tied, and are subsequently sorted by FIFA Rankings for the second.
The subsequent tie we will have a look at is between Czechia, Ecuador, and Panama, groups that misplaced and have a purpose differential of -1. Czechia scored two objectives, in order that they slot into seventh place, leaving Ecuador and Panama combating for the eighth and remaining spot (for the second).
Once more, it comes all the way down to the crew conduct rating between Ecuador and Panama. Ecuador presently has one yellow, whereas Panama has two. Ecuador slots in because the eighth crew, whereas Panama drops out.
