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Annex CRules explainer

Annex C explained: why Round of 32 opponents are not fixed yet

Explain that FIFA is not choosing opponents after the fact; Annex C is a pre-published lookup table.

Latest scenario update

2026-06-26

Generated from the current scenario dataset on 2026-06-27T06:19:40.366Z.

Current Annex C filter

Annex C is still the bracket lookup layer, not a prediction layer. 126 of 495 possible third-place combinations remain live in the current filtered table.

That is why one group winner can still carry several possible third-place opponents even when some other ties are already decided.

  • Treat the filtered rows as the current shortlist, not as confirmed draw results.
  • No same-group Round of 32 tie should be presented as live.

Current filtered Annex C rows

Each row is one valid third-place combination. The seed columns show which third-place slot each group winner would draw in that case.

OptionGroup A winnerGroup B winnerGroup D winnerGroup E winnerGroup G winnerGroup I winnerGroup K winnerGroup L winnerThird-place groups
483E3J3B3F3I3H3L3K
B,E,F,H,I,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
493E3J3B3F3I3G3L3K
B,E,F,G,I,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
503E3J3B3F3H3G3L3K
B,E,F,G,H,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
513E3G3B3F3I3H3L3K
B,E,F,G,H,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
523E3J3B3F3H3G3L3I
B,E,F,G,H,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
533E3J3B3F3H3G3I3K
B,E,F,G,H,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
673E3J3B3D3I3F3L3K
B,D,E,F,I,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
683E3J3B3D3H3F3L3K
B,D,E,F,H,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
693E3I3B3D3H3F3L3K
B,D,E,F,H,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
703E3J3B3D3H3F3L3I
B,D,E,F,H,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
713E3J3B3D3H3F3I3K
B,D,E,F,H,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
723E3G3B3D3J3F3L3K
B,D,E,F,G,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
733E3G3B3D3I3F3L3K
B,D,E,F,G,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
743E3G3B3D3J3F3L3I
B,D,E,F,G,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
753E3G3B3D3J3F3I3K
B,D,E,F,G,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
763E3G3B3D3H3F3L3K
B,D,E,F,G,H,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
773H3G3B3D3J3F3L3E
B,D,E,F,G,H,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
783H3G3B3D3J3F3E3K
B,D,E,F,G,H,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
793E3G3B3D3H3F3L3I
B,D,E,F,G,H,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
803E3G3B3D3H3F3I3K
B,D,E,F,G,H,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
813H3G3B3D3J3F3E3I
B,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
953E3J3B3C3I3F3L3K
B,C,E,F,I,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
963E3J3B3C3H3F3L3K
B,C,E,F,H,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
973E3I3B3C3H3F3L3K
B,C,E,F,H,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
983E3J3B3C3H3F3L3I
B,C,E,F,H,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
993E3J3B3C3H3F3I3K
B,C,E,F,H,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1003E3G3B3C3J3F3L3K
B,C,E,F,G,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1013E3G3B3C3I3F3L3K
B,C,E,F,G,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1023E3G3B3C3J3F3L3I
B,C,E,F,G,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1033E3G3B3C3J3F3I3K
B,C,E,F,G,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1043E3G3B3C3H3F3L3K
B,C,E,F,G,H,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1053H3G3B3C3J3F3L3E
B,C,E,F,G,H,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1063H3G3B3C3J3F3E3K
B,C,E,F,G,H,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1073E3G3B3C3H3F3L3I
B,C,E,F,G,H,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1083E3G3B3C3H3F3I3K
B,C,E,F,G,H,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1093H3G3B3C3J3F3E3I
B,C,E,F,G,H,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1463C3J3B3D3E3F3L3K
B,C,D,E,F,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1473C3E3B3D3I3F3L3K
B,C,D,E,F,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1483C3J3B3D3E3F3L3I
B,C,D,E,F,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1493C3J3B3D3E3F3I3K
B,C,D,E,F,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1503C3E3B3D3H3F3L3K
B,C,D,E,F,H,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1513C3J3B3D3H3F3L3E
B,C,D,E,F,H,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1523C3J3B3D3H3F3E3K
B,C,D,E,F,H,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1533C3E3B3D3H3F3L3I
B,C,D,E,F,H,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1543C3E3B3D3H3F3I3K
B,C,D,E,F,H,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1553C3J3B3D3H3F3E3I
B,C,D,E,F,H,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1563C3G3B3D3E3F3L3K
B,C,D,E,F,G,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1573C3G3B3D3J3F3L3E
B,C,D,E,F,G,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1583C3G3B3D3J3F3E3K
B,C,D,E,F,G,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1593C3G3B3D3E3F3L3I
B,C,D,E,F,G,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1603C3G3B3D3E3F3I3K
B,C,D,E,F,G,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1613C3G3B3D3J3F3E3I
B,C,D,E,F,G,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1623C3G3B3D3H3F3L3E
B,C,D,E,F,G,H,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1633C3G3B3D3H3F3E3K
B,C,D,E,F,G,H,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1643H3G3B3C3J3F3D3E
B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
1653C3G3B3D3H3F3E3I
B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
2993E3J3B3A3I3F3L3K
A,B,E,F,I,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3003E3J3B3F3A3H3L3K
A,B,E,F,H,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3013E3I3B3F3A3H3L3K
A,B,E,F,H,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3023E3J3B3F3A3H3L3I
A,B,E,F,H,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3033E3J3B3F3A3H3I3K
A,B,E,F,H,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3043E3J3B3F3A3G3L3K
A,B,E,F,G,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3053E3G3B3A3I3F3L3K
A,B,E,F,G,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3063E3J3B3F3A3G3L3I
A,B,E,F,G,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3073E3J3B3F3A3G3I3K
A,B,E,F,G,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3083E3G3B3F3A3H3L3K
A,B,E,F,G,H,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3093H3J3B3F3A3G3L3E
A,B,E,F,G,H,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3103H3J3B3F3A3G3E3K
A,B,E,F,G,H,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3113E3G3B3F3A3H3L3I
A,B,E,F,G,H,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3123E3G3B3F3A3H3I3K
A,B,E,F,G,H,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3133H3J3B3F3A3G3E3I
A,B,E,F,G,H,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3503E3J3B3D3A3F3L3K
A,B,D,E,F,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3513E3I3B3D3A3F3L3K
A,B,D,E,F,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3523E3J3B3D3A3F3L3I
A,B,D,E,F,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3533E3J3B3D3A3F3I3K
A,B,D,E,F,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3543H3E3B3D3A3F3L3K
A,B,D,E,F,H,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3553H3J3B3D3A3F3L3E
A,B,D,E,F,H,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3563H3J3B3D3A3F3E3K
A,B,D,E,F,H,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3573H3E3B3D3A3F3L3I
A,B,D,E,F,H,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3583H3E3B3D3A3F3I3K
A,B,D,E,F,H,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3593H3J3B3D3A3F3E3I
A,B,D,E,F,H,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3603E3G3B3D3A3F3L3K
A,B,D,E,F,G,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3613E3G3B3D3A3F3L3J
A,B,D,E,F,G,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3623E3G3B3D3A3F3J3K
A,B,D,E,F,G,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3633E3G3B3D3A3F3L3I
A,B,D,E,F,G,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3643E3G3B3D3A3F3I3K
A,B,D,E,F,G,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3653E3G3B3D3A3F3I3J
A,B,D,E,F,G,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3663H3G3B3D3A3F3L3E
A,B,D,E,F,G,H,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3673H3G3B3D3A3F3E3K
A,B,D,E,F,G,H,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3683H3G3B3D3A3F3E3J
A,B,D,E,F,G,H,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
3693H3G3B3D3A3F3E3I
A,B,D,E,F,G,H,I
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4063E3J3B3C3A3F3L3K
A,B,C,E,F,J,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4073E3I3B3C3A3F3L3K
A,B,C,E,F,I,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4083E3J3B3C3A3F3L3I
A,B,C,E,F,I,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4093E3J3B3C3A3F3I3K
A,B,C,E,F,I,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4103H3E3B3C3A3F3L3K
A,B,C,E,F,H,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4113H3J3B3C3A3F3L3E
A,B,C,E,F,H,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4123H3J3B3C3A3F3E3K
A,B,C,E,F,H,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4133H3E3B3C3A3F3L3I
A,B,C,E,F,H,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4143H3E3B3C3A3F3I3K
A,B,C,E,F,H,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4153H3J3B3C3A3F3E3I
A,B,C,E,F,H,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4163E3G3B3C3A3F3L3K
A,B,C,E,F,G,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4173E3G3B3C3A3F3L3J
A,B,C,E,F,G,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4183E3G3B3C3A3F3J3K
A,B,C,E,F,G,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4193E3G3B3C3A3F3L3I
A,B,C,E,F,G,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4203E3G3B3C3A3F3I3K
A,B,C,E,F,G,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4213E3G3B3C3A3F3I3J
A,B,C,E,F,G,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4223H3G3B3C3A3F3L3E
A,B,C,E,F,G,H,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4233H3G3B3C3A3F3E3K
A,B,C,E,F,G,H,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4243H3G3B3C3A3F3E3J
A,B,C,E,F,G,H,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4253H3G3B3C3A3F3E3I
A,B,C,E,F,G,H,I
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4813C3E3B3D3A3F3L3K
A,B,C,D,E,F,K,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4823C3J3B3D3A3F3L3E
A,B,C,D,E,F,J,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4833C3J3B3D3A3F3E3K
A,B,C,D,E,F,J,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4843C3E3B3D3A3F3L3I
A,B,C,D,E,F,I,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4853C3E3B3D3A3F3I3K
A,B,C,D,E,F,I,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4863C3J3B3D3A3F3E3I
A,B,C,D,E,F,I,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4873H3F3B3C3A3D3L3E
A,B,C,D,E,F,H,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4883H3E3B3C3A3F3D3K
A,B,C,D,E,F,H,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4893H3J3B3C3A3F3D3E
A,B,C,D,E,F,H,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4903H3E3B3C3A3F3D3I
A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4913C3G3B3D3A3F3L3E
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,L
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4923C3G3B3D3A3F3E3K
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,K
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4933C3G3B3D3A3F3E3J
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,J
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4943C3G3B3D3A3F3E3I
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,I
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced
4953H3G3B3C3A3F3D3E
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H
Includes B/E/F confirmed advanced

Rules to anchor this page

Final competition has a group stage followed by Round of 32, Round of 16, QF, SF, third-place match, final

All scenario pages should talk about Round of 32 as first knockout round

Regulations Article 12.1

48 teams divided into 12 groups of four

Group pages are A-L; each group can have a third-place qualifier

Regulations Article 12.2

Last two matches in each group have simultaneous kick-off unless FIFA says otherwise

Group scenario pages should avoid assuming one result is known before the other final match

Regulations Article 12.4

Top two in each group plus eight best third-place teams qualify

Direct qualification and third-place route should be separate in copy

Regulations Article 12.5

R32 includes fixed runner-up pairings and eight matches against best third-place teams

Round of 32 pages need both fixed fixtures and third-place opponent pools

Regulations Article 12.6

Teams from same group shall not meet each other in Round of 32

Do not generate same-group matchup pages

Regulations Article 12.6 note

Annex C has 495 combinations of the eight best-ranked third-placed teams and their next R32 matchup

Annex C should be a lookup table, not hand-written logic

Regulations Article 12.6 + Annex C

Third-place teams ranked by points, goal difference, goals scored, conduct score, FIFA ranking

Third-place table must be score/data-driven and cite tie-breakers

Regulations Article 13

Related scenario pages

Use these links to move between group stakes, third-place logic, and the live Round of 32 map.

World Cup 2026 scenarios

Start at the main qualification and bracket hub

Round of 32 scenarios

Stay anchored to the main bracket hub

World Cup 2026 third-place table

Pair the lookup rows with the live third-place race

Best third-place rules

Review the qualification ranking logic

Mexico vs Scotland: Round of 32 scenario

Example live permutation

Mexico vs Ecuador: Round of 32 scenario

Example live permutation

Mexico vs Third-place team from Group H: Round of 32 scenario

Example live permutation

Switzerland vs Ecuador: Round of 32 scenario

Example live permutation

Round of 32 hubThird-place table