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For the first time in a FIFA World Cup, finishing third in your group does not necessarily mean returning home.
With 48 teams competing in 2026, FIFA expanded the field to include the eight best third-place finishers in the 12 groups. The top two teams in each group automatically advance, and the remaining eight spots in the 32-team knockout bracket go to the third-highest-placed teams, determined by points, goal difference, goals scored and other tiebreakers.
That means 12 teams will compete for eight spots, and the race to stay in the top eight is one of the most compelling subplots of the final days of the group stage.
This is where the third-place seeding stands heading into the final round of group stage matches on June 24.
World Cup third place classification
| Range | Equipment | deputy | WDL | bride | Georgia | God | PTS |
| 1 | Sweden | 2 | 1-0-1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Scotland | 2 | 1-0-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Croatia | 2 | 1-0-1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Algeria | 2 | 1-0-1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 5 | Paraguay | 2 | 1-0-1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 6 | Cape Verde | 2 | 0-2-0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Belgium | 2 | 0-2-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Czechia | 2 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| cutting line | |||||||
| 9 | DR Congo | 2 | 0-1-1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 10 | Ecuador | 2 | 0-1-1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 11 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
| 12 | Senegal | 2 | 0-0-2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
The third-place seeding will change considerably over the next two days as the final round of group stage matches are played. Follow the standings live on FOXSports.com and watch every game on FOX and FS1, streaming live on FOX One.
Classification at the close of the matches on June 23.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualification Rules
How do points work? How do tiebreakers work?
In a group, a team will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. That could mean some teams are tied on points at the end of the three-match group stage. That brings us to the tiebreakers.
If two or more teams finish tied on group stage points, this is the order of who finishes on top:
1. Highest number of points obtained in head-to-head matches played between tied teams;
2. Higher goal difference in head-to-head matches between tied teams;
3. Greater number of goals scored in head-to-head matches played between tied teams;
There are even more tiebreakers if any team remains locked out after all that. From there, ties are broken using these rules:
4. Higher goal difference in all group games
5. Most goals scored in all group matches
6. Highest team conduct score in all group matches (taking into account yellow and red cards)
7. FIFA World Ranking
Which third place teams will advance?
To complete the World Cup knockout group, the eight best third-place teams out of a possible 12 in the tournament will advance. The criteria for these teams are based on:
1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Highest team conduct score in all group matches (taking into account yellow and red cards)
5. FIFA World Ranking
