World Cup 2026 third-place race takes shape as two teams clinch knockout spots

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup is nearing its end, and after the completion of Group H overnight between Thursday and Friday, four groups have finished. Under the tournament’s new format, eight of the 12 third-place finishers will advance to the knockout stage.

So far, Bosnia and Ecuador have already secured qualification from third place. The teams currently sitting third are South Korea, Bosnia, Scotland and Ecuador, while the remaining standings show Sweden, Croatia, Algeria, Paraguay, Cape Verde, Belgium, DR Congo and Senegal still in contention or already out of reach.

The table indicates that Ecuador leads the third-place race with 4 points and a goal difference of 0 after three matches, followed by Bosnia with 4 points and a minus-1 goal difference after three matches. Sweden and Croatia each have 3 points from two matches, South Korea has 3 points and a minus-1 goal difference from three matches, Algeria and Paraguay each have 3 points with minus-2 goal differences from two matches, and Scotland has 3 points with a minus-3 goal difference from three matches. Cape Verde and Belgium have 2 points each from two matches, DR Congo has 1 point, and Senegal has none.

The article says it is already clear that four points with a goal difference better than minus-2 will be enough to qualify. Since many teams are expected to finish on three points, goal difference could decide who goes through. If two teams finish level on points and goal difference, the tiebreakers are goals scored, then fair play, based on yellow and red cards, and finally FIFA ranking.