Copa do Mundo FIFA 2026

Best third-placed teams

8 of the 12 third-placed teams reach the Round of 32 — ranked live by points, goal difference and goals scored.

At the FIFA World Cup 2026, the 8 best third-placed teams from the 12 groups join the Round of 32. As it stands, the cut-off sits at 2 points (Belgium, Group G), with Czechia the first team below the line.

EquipeGrJSGGPPts
1Bosnia & Herzegovina flagBósnia e HerzegovinaINB3-154
2Sweden flagSuéciaINF2063
3Croatia flagCroáciaINL2-133
4Algeria flagArgéliaINJ2-223
5Paraguay flagParaguaiIND2-223
6Scotland flagEscóciaINC3-313
7Cape Verde Islands flagCabo VerdeINH2022
8Belgium flagBélgicaING2012
Qualification cut-off — top 8 advance
9Czechia flagChéquiaOUTA2-121
10Congo DR flagRD CongoOUTK2-111
11Ecuador flagEquadorOUTE2-101
12Senegal flagSenegalOUTI2-330

IN Provisionally advancing   OUT Below the line

How third-place qualification works

The 2026 World Cup has 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top two of every group qualify automatically (24 teams). The eight best third-placed teams — compared across all groups by points, then goal difference, then goals scored — fill the remaining knockout spots, for 32 teams in the Round of 32.

See the full Round of 32 bracket →