The 2026 FIFA World Cup has expanded to 48 nations, up from the previous 32. This means the field is divided into 12 four-team groups, and the knockout stage begins with the round of 32. Teams that finish in third place in a group could still advance, with the top eight third-place teams moving on.
Third-Place Standings
The latest third-place standings are being tracked, with the top eight teams advancing to the round of 32. The standings will be updated as matches are played.
FIFA will use tiebreakers to rank the third-place teams, including points, goal difference, goals scored, team conduct score, and FIFA World Rankings. The Netherlands currently sit atop the standings, thanks to the third tiebreaker and the two goals they scored against Japan.
Other teams, such as Brazil, Belgium, Qatar, and Portugal, are also in the running, with their standings determined by the tiebreakers. The team conduct score is used to break ties, with teams having fewer yellow cards ranked higher.
Original reporting: All Sports Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
