NEW YORK – As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches the end of its group stage, teams across the tournament are battling for places in the knockout rounds, with several groups still undecided ahead of the final round of matches.
The expanded tournament, featuring 48 national teams, entered its decisive phase after group-stage action began on June 12 and continues through June 28, 2026. The competition opened at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, where hosts Mexico faced South Africa in a fixture that mirrored the opening match of the 2010 World Cup.
Attention is now turning toward the knockout stage, which begins with the Round of 32 on June 29. The tournament will conclude on July 20 with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
Several teams have already secured strong positions in their respective groups. Mexico finished atop Group A with nine points and a goal difference of +6, while South Africa remained second on four points. South Korea collected three points, and Czechia ended with one.
In Group B, Switzerland led the standings with seven points, followed by Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, both on four points. Qatar remained bottom with a single point.
Brazil and Morocco shared the lead in Group C with seven points each, although Brazil held a superior goal difference. Scotland sat third with three points, while Haiti was eliminated without earning a point.
Australia remained in contention in Group D, where one match remained to be played. The United States led the group with six points and a +5 goal difference. Australia and Paraguay were level on three points, while Turkiye had yet to register a point.
Group E also had one round of fixtures remaining. Germany topped the standings on six points, ahead of Côte d’Ivoire on three. Ecuador and Curaçao each had one point.
The battle for qualification remained particularly tight in Group F, where the Netherlands and Japan were level on four points and identical goal differences. Sweden stayed within reach on three points, while Tunisia had been left behind without a point.
Group G remained wide open. Egypt occupied first place with four points, while Iran and Belgium each had two. New Zealand sat bottom with one point but was still mathematically alive.
Spain led Group H on four points, with Uruguay and Cabo Verde both on two points. Saudi Arabia remained in the hunt despite collecting only one point from its opening matches.
France and Norway had already established themselves as the leading teams in Group I, each earning six points. Senegal and Iraq had yet to secure a point.
Argentina headed Group J with six points, while Austria and Algeria were tied on three. Jordan remained without a point heading into the final group match.
In Group K, Colombia led with six points, followed by Portugal on four. DR Congo and Uzbekistan faced difficult qualification scenarios after collecting one and zero points respectively.
Meanwhile, Group L remained one of the most competitive sections of the tournament. England occupied first place with four points, while Ghana and Croatia both remained firmly in contention on three points each. Panama sat fourth without a point.
With several groups still unresolved and knockout berths on the line, the final round of group-stage fixtures is expected to determine the remaining places in the Round of 32 and shape the path toward the World Cup final. (Andre)
