World Cup group stage tightens with one round left

The second round of the 2026 World Cup group stage ended on Wednesday morning, with one matchday still to play. Some groups are already largely decided, while others will hinge on the final games. The article notes that, in all likelihood, four points will be enough to advance from third place, though three points plus a strong goal difference could also matter. Within each group, head-to-head results come before goal difference in tiebreakers.

The teams already through as group winners are Mexico, the United States, Germany and Argentina. Norway, France and Colombia have also secured qualification. Haiti, Turkey, Jordan, Tunisia and Panama have been eliminated. The article also highlights possible knockout-stage matchups, including Colombia against Ghana, France against Sweden, the Netherlands against Morocco and Portugal against Croatia, plus projected round-of-16 clashes such as Brazil against Norway, Germany against France and Spain against Colombia.

In Group G, Egypt leads on 4 points, followed by Iran and Belgium on 2 each, with New Zealand on 1. Egypt is effectively through, Belgium controls its fate with a win, and Iran may need more than a draw. In Group H, Spain has 4 points and a plus-4 goal difference, ahead of Uruguay and Cape Verde on 2 and Saudi Arabia on 1. Cape Verde is in a strong position, Spain is effectively through, and Uruguay could still miss out.

Group I is headed by France and Norway on 6 points each, with France ahead on goal difference. Their head-to-head match will decide first place, and France would take the group with a draw. Group J has Argentina on 6 points, with Austria and Algeria on 3, and Jordan already out, while Group K features Colombia on 6, Portugal on 4, Congo on 1 and Uzbekistan on 0. Group L is led by England and Ghana on 4 points each, Croatia has 3 and Panama is out; England can clinch first place with a win, while a draw between Croatia and Ghana could send both through.