- By Samannay Sen
- Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- The 27th edition of the marquee event kicked off in an expanded 48-team format featuring 104 matches.
- Paraguay are also in a strong position following their draw against Australia.
- The Round of 32 will be played over six days from June 28 to July 3.
FIFA World Cup 2026: The knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is knocking at the door with several teams already securing qualification to the Round of 32.
While football giants like France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands have booked their places directly by finishing in the top two of their respective groups, a few nations have also made it through via the newly introduced third-place qualification route.
Sweden, Ecuador and Bosnia and Herzegovina have mathematically confirmed their spots among the tournament's best third-placed teams, with a few more nations almost certain to follow.
The 27th edition of the marquee event kicked off in an expanded 48-team format featuring 104 matches. Unlike previous editions, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups are joined by the eight best third-placed teams, making the race for qualification even more intense till the final group-stage fixtures.
Which Teams Have Qualified Directly?
Group A: Mexico (1st) and South Africa (2nd)
Group B: Switzerland (1st) and Canada (2nd)
Group C: Brazil (1st) and Morocco (2nd)
Group D: United States (1st) and Australia (2nd)
Group E: Germany (1st) and Ivory Coast (2nd)
Group F: Netherlands (1st) and Japan (2nd)
Group G: Group stage still in progress
Group H: Group stage still in progress
Group I: France (1st) and Norway (2nd)
Group J: Argentina (1st)
Group K: Colombia (1st)
Group L: Group stage still in progress
FIFA World Cup 2026 Third-Place Standings
Rank | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
1 | Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
2 | Ecuador | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
3 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
4 | Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
5 | Croatia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
6 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
7 | Algeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
8 | Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
9 | Cabo Verde | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
10 | Belgium | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
11 | Congo DR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
12 | Senegal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
As things stand, Sweden, Ecuador and Bosnia and Herzegovina have mathematically sealed qualification as three of the eight best third-placed teams after the completion of their group-stage campaigns.
Paraguay are also in a strong position following their draw against Australia, while Croatia, South Korea, Algeria and Scotland remain favourites to progress depending on the remaining fixtures.
Meanwhile, debutants Cabo Verde and Belgium still have work to do, whereas DR Congo and Senegal face the biggest risk of elimination unless results go in their favour in the final games.
How Are The Best Third-Place Teams Decided?
FIFA ranks all 12 third-placed teams in a single table, with the top eight advancing to the Round of 32.
- The tie-breakers are applied in the following order:
- Total Points: Team with the highest points finishes higher.
- Goal Difference: Better overall goal difference in the group stage.
- Goals Scored: Team scoring more goals ranks higher.
- Fair Play Record: Yellow card: -1 point, Indirect red card (second yellow): -3 points
- Straight red card: -4 points
- FIFA World Rankings: If teams are still level after all the above criteria, the latest FIFA World Rankings determine the final qualification spot.
When Are The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 Fixtures?
The Round of 32 will be played over six days from June 28 to July 3, with 16 knockout matches scheduled across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- June 28 (Sunday)
- June 29 (Monday)
- June 30 (Tuesday)
- July 1 (Wednesday)
- July 2 (Thursday)
- July 3 (Friday)
The exact kick-off times and match-ups will only be confirmed after all 12 groups conclude, as several fixtures depend on which eight third-placed teams qualify for the knockout bracket.