EXPLAINER: How the eight best third-placed at World Cup will be determined
EXPLAINER: How the eight best third-placed at World Cup will be determined
The ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, has reached the final round of group games. The teams and fixtures for the knockout rounds are gradually coming into focus. The tournament was expanded to 48 nations drawn into 12 groups labelled A-L, with the first knockout round expected to involve 32 nations.
Traditionally, only the top two nations in each group advance to the knockout phase at FIFA World Cup tournaments. But the expanded 12-group format will guarantee slots to additional eight best teams that finished third in their respective groups.
Here are the criteria for determining the eight countries that will earn the best-loser slots.
WHAT CRITERIA WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE THE EIGHT BEST LOSERS?
To be eligible for one of the eight best third-placed spots, countries must finish third in their respective groups.
Then all third-placed teams across all 12 groups will be ranked from highest to lowest by points accrued in their matches. The eight countries with the highest points among the 12 will advance to the round of 32.
However, if some countries are tied on points, goal difference will be used as a tiebreaker to determine which teams advance.
But in cases where multiple countries have the same points and goal difference and cannot be separated, the number of goals scored by each team is considered.
If this factor still has multiple countries tangled, the next consideration is fair play status. The number of yellow and red cards they receive during the group phase will then be taken into account.
If these factors still leave some countries inseparable, the final consideration is their positions in the latest FIFA World ranking, released on June 11.
WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE QUALIFIED THROUGH THE BEST LOSERS ROUTE?
Bosnia and Herzegovina are the only country that have picked up a round of 32 ticket through the best losers route. The European nation finished third in Group B with four points from all three games. Sweden, Croatia, South Korea, Paraguay and Scotland are all poised to take one of the eight slots depending on the result of their final group game.
AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN CONTENTION FOR ANY OF THE EIGHT SLOTS
Morocco and South Africa are through to the knockout round, both Egypt and Ivory Coast are well positioned to advance as top two in their respective groups, while four points for Ghana means they already have a leg in the knockout round, regardless of their result against Croatia.
However, Algeria must pick up a point against Austria to reach the magical four points, while Senegal will need to score at least three goals if they defeat Iraq in the final group match to brighten their chances of qualifying from third place.
Also, Cape Verde must beat Saudi Arabia for four points, or pick up a point to stand a chance with three points and zero goal difference. Only a victory can ensure Congo DR reaches four points and give it a chance of qualifying for the round of 32.
