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World Cup 2026 third-place table

This is the new drama of the 48-team World Cup.

Latest scenario update

2026-06-26

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

Latest third-place read

Current table: South Korea 3 pts (-1 GD, can still advance); Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 pts (-1 GD, advanced); Scotland 3 pts (-3 GD, can still advance); Paraguay 4 pts (-2 GD, can still advance); Ecuador 4 pts (+0 GD, advanced); Sweden 4 pts (+0 GD, advanced); Belgium 2 pts (+0 GD, current 3rd before final match); Cape Verde 2 pts (+0 GD, current 3rd before final match); Senegal 0 pts (-3 GD, current 3rd before final match); Algeria 3 pts (-2 GD, current 3rd before final match); DR Congo 1 pt (-1 GD, current 3rd before final match); Croatia 3 pts (-1 GD, current 3rd before final match).

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Sweden have the strongest current third-place positions.

  • Bubble teams still needing help or one more swing: South Korea, Scotland, Paraguay.

Current third-place table

GroupTeamPtsGDStatusNotes
ASouth Korea3-1Can still advanceKnown 3rd; not confirmed advanced
BBosnia and Herzegovina4-1AdvancedConfirmed 3rd-place qualifier; critical Annex C constraint
CScotland3-3Can still advanceKnown 3rd; not confirmed advanced
DParaguay4-2Can still advanceKnown 3rd; 4 pts but source does not mark confirmed
EEcuador40AdvancedConfirmed 3rd-place qualifier
FSweden40AdvancedConfirmed 3rd-place qualifier
GBelgium20Current 3rd before final matchGroup G still open; third team can change
HCape Verde20Current 3rd before final matchGroup H still open; third team can change
ISenegal0-3Current 3rd before final matchThird team depends on Senegal vs Iraq
JAlgeria3-2Current 3rd before final matchThird team depends on Algeria vs Austria and Jordan vs Argentina
KDR Congo1-1Current 3rd before final matchThird team depends on Colombia vs Portugal and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
LCroatia3-1Current 3rd before final matchThird team depends on Croatia vs Ghana and Panama vs England

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

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

Best third-place rules

See the ranking tiebreakers

Annex C explained

Understand how third-place qualifiers move in the bracket

Round of 32 hubThird-place table