🥉 Best third-placed teams

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At the 2026 World Cup, Japan currently leads the 12 third-placed teams with 1 points; the best 8 advance to the Round of 32, with the cut-off at 0 points (Ecuador).

Each of the 12 groups has a third-placed team; the 8 best of them advance to the Round of 32. They are compared only on points, goal difference and goals scored (cross-group, with no head-to-head).

All 12 third-placed teams ranked (top 8 advance)

Ranked on actual results so far; below the dashed line = currently out. Tap a team for its group page.

1JapanF1pts · GD+088%2BelgiumG1pts · GD+087%3MoroccoC1pts · GD+084%4Congo DRK1pts · GD+049%5SpainH1pts · GD+093%6CzechiaA1pts · GD-122%7Bosnia-HerzegovinaB1pts · GD-352%8EcuadorE0pts · GD-171%9PanamaL0pts · GD-118%10SenegalI0pts · GD-259%11JordanJ0pts · GD-220%12TurkeyD0pts · GD-254%

If the current standings hold: third-place Round-of-32 matchups

The 8 qualifying third-placed teams are assigned to 8 group winners via FIFA's 495-combination Annex C table, so a third never meets the winner of its own group.

Winner Group E vs 3rd of Group CM74

Winner Group I vs 3rd of Group FM77

Winner Group A vs 3rd of Group HM79

Winner Group L vs 3rd of Group KM80

Winner Group D vs 3rd of Group BM81

Winner Group G vs 3rd of Group AM82

Winner Group B vs 3rd of Group GM85

Winner Group K vs 3rd of Group EM87