The expanded World Cup 2026 format means the introduction of a round of 32 and for some third-placed teams a chance at knockout glory.
Teams who finish fourth in their groups are eliminated immediately, but eight of the 12 third-placed teams will live to fight another day. And the battle is close.
Scotland currently sit seventh in the third-place table after playing their three group games, which leaves their last-32 hopes hanging by a thread.
If Scotland do qualify in third, their reward will be a last 32 clash against a group winner - A/E/I - and as things currently stand, a showdown with tournament co-hosts Mexico is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1.
Pos. |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Bosnia |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
4 |
2 |
Sweden |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
Croatia |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
3 |
4 |
South Korea |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
-1 |
3 |
5 |
Algeria |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-2 |
3 |
6 |
Paraguay |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
-2 |
3 |
7 |
Scotland |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-3 |
3 |
8 |
Cape Verde |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
Belgium |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
DR Congo |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
1 |
11 |
Ecuador |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
1 |
12 |
Senegal |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
-3 |
0 |
How are the eight best third-placed teams decided?
The eight best third-placed teams are ranked based on several criteria.
First, teams are compared by the total number of points they obtained in all group matches. If teams are still level, their goal difference across all group matches is considered. If a tie remains, the total number of goals scored in all group matches is used.
If teams cannot be separated using these criteria, the Fair Play ranking is applied, taking into account the number of yellow and red cards received during all group matches. As a final tiebreaker, the FIFA World Ranking is used.
