Wondering how each team can advance to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup? You’ve come to the right place.
With just one more day of the second round of group stage games to go, it’s becoming clearer and clearer who has realistic chances of making it to the Round of 16. So far, France, Brazil and Portugal are the only teams that have clinched advancement to the next round while Qatar and Canada have been eliminated after their first two games. That leaves 27 teams fighting for the remaining 13 knockout round spots over the final four days of group play.
Here’s what you need to know heading into the last set of group stage games on Tuesday.
Group A
1. Netherlands, 7 points (+4 goal difference)
2. Senegal, 6 points (+2)
3. Ecuador, 4 points (+1)
4. Qatar, 0 points (-6)
Tuesday’s games
Netherlands 2, Qatar 0
Senegal 2, Ecuador 1
The Netherlands will face the second-place team in Group B on Saturday in the Round of 16. Senegal will face the Group B winner.
Group B
1. England, 4 points (+4 goal difference)
2. Iran, 3 points (-2)
3. United States, 2 points (0)
4. Wales, 1 point (-2)
Tuesday’s games
England vs. Wales (2 p.m. ET, FS1)
United States vs. Iran (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
How each Group B team can advance
England: Will win the group with a win over Wales and can clinch advancement with a tie. A tie is good enough to win the group if Iran and the United States tie.
Iran: Can advance with a win and can win the group with a win and an England loss. A tie is good enough to advance as long as Wales doesn’t beat England.
United States: Can advance with a win over Iran. Can win the group with a win over Iran and a Wales win over England or a five-goal win over Iran and a tie between England and Wales.
Wales: Can advance with a win over England and a tie between Iran and the United States.
Group C
1. Poland, 4 points (+2 goal difference)
2. Argentina, 3 points (+1)
3. Saudi Arabia, 3 points (-1)
4. Mexico, 1 point (-2)
Wednesday’s games
Poland vs. Argentina (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico (2 p.m. ET, FS1)
How each Group C team can advance
Poland: Will win the group with a win over Argentina. Will advance with a tie. Can advance with a loss to Argentina if Mexico beats Saudi Arabia and has a better goal differential than Mexico.
Argentina: Will advance with a win or a tie. Will win the group with a win over Poland and a Mexico win over Saudi Arabia. Can win the group with a win and a Saudi Arabia win if the Saudis have a worse goal differential. Can advance with a tie if Mexico beats Saudi Arabia by two or fewer goals.
Saudi Arabia: Will advance with a win. Can win the group with a win and a tie between Poland and Argentina. Can advance with a tie if Poland beats Argentina.
Mexico: Will advance with a win and a Poland win over Argentina. Can advance with a win and tie between Argentina and Poland with a better goal differential than Argentina. Can advance with a win and an Argentina win with a better goal differential than Poland.
Group D
1. France, 6 points (+4 goal difference)
2. Australia, 3 points (-2)
3. Denmark, 1 point (-1)
4. Tunisia, 1 point (-1)
Wednesday’s games
France vs. Tunisia (10 a.m. ET, Fox)
Denmark vs. Australia (10 a.m. ET, FS1)
How each Group D team can advance
France: Already clinched advancement and can win the group with a tie or win.
Australia: Will advance with a win. Can advance with a tie if France beats or ties Tunisia.
Denmark: Will advance with a win and a France win or tie with Tunisia.
Tunisia: Will advance with a win and tie between Denmark and Australia.
Group E
1. Spain, 4 points (+7 goal difference)
2. Japan, 3 points (0)
3. Costa Rica, 3 points (-6)
4. Germany, 1 point (-1)
Thursday’s games
Spain vs. Japan (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
Germany vs. Costa Rica (2 p.m. ET, FS1)
How each Group E team can advance
Spain: Will win group with a win or a tie. Can advance with a loss with a superior goal difference if tied with either Costa Rica or Germany.
Japan: Will win group with a win. Can advance with a tie and a better goal difference than Costa Rica and Germany if either team finishes with 4 points.
Costa Rica: Will win group with a win and a tie between Japan and Spain. Will advance with a win or tie and a Spain win.
Germany: Will advance with a win and a Spain win. Will advance with a win and a Spain tie with Japan with a better goal difference or more goals scored than Japan.
Group F
1. Croatia, 4 points (+3 goal difference)
2. Morocco, 4 points (+2)
3. Belgium, 3 points (-1)
4. Canada, 0 points
Thursday’s games
Croatia vs. Belgium (10 a.m. ET, Fox)
Canada vs. Morocco (10 a.m. ET, FS1)
How each Group F team can advance
Croatia: Will win group with a win and a Morocco tie or loss. Will win group with a win and a Morocco win and a better goal difference. Will advance with a tie.
Morocco: Will win group with a win and a Croatia tie or loss. Will win group with a win and a Croatia win and a better goal difference. Will advance with a tie and a Croatia win or tie.
Belgium: Will win group with a win and a Morocco tie or loss. Will advance with a tie and a Morocco loss.
Canada: Cannot advance
Group G
1. Brazil, 6 points (+3 goal difference)
2. Switzerland, 3 points (0)
3. Cameroon, 1 point (-1)
4. Serbia, 1 point (-2)
Friday’s games
Brazil vs. Cameroon (2 p.m. ET, Fox)
Serbia vs. Switzerland (2 p.m. ET, FS1)
How each Group G team can advance
Brazil: Already clinched advancement and will win the group with a tie or win.
Switzerland: Will advance with a win. Will advance with a tie with a Brazil win or tie. Can win the group with a win and a Cameroon win and a better goal difference than Brazil.
Cameroon: Will advance with a win and a Serbia win. Will advance with a win and a Switzerland vs. Serbia tie and a better goal difference than Switzerland.
Serbia: Will advance with a win and a Cameroon win and a better goal differential than Cameroon.
Group H
1. Portugal, 6 points (+3 goal differential)
2. Ghana, 3 points (0)
3. South Korea, 1 point (-1)
4. Uruguay, 1 point (-2)
Friday’s games
Portugal vs. South Korea (10 a.m. ET, Fox)
Uruguay vs. Ghana (10 a.m. ET, FS1)
How each Group H team can advance
Portugal: Already clinched advancement and will win the group with a tie or win.
Ghana: Will advance with a win or tie. Will win the group with a win and a South Korea win and a better goal differential than Portugal.
South Korea: Will advance with a win and a Uruguay win over Ghana and a better goal differential than Uruguay.
Uruguay: Will advance with a win and a Portugal win over South Korea and a better goal differential than South Korea.