The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is underway. This page — one of dozens comprising The Athletic’s World Cup Tracker project — is your destination for current group standings and the live table of third-place teams.
If you’re just tuning in, here are the basics: there are 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four teams each (the United States is in Group D). Over the course of 16 days, the teams in each group will play each other once. The top two teams in each group automatically advance to the Round of 32, along with the top eight third-place teams. You can find a more detailed explanation here.
Current third place standings
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Teams that have finished in third place are sorted first by points (three points for a win, one for a tie and none for a loss), then goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed), then goals scored.
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Current standings reflect in-progress results.
Generally speaking, if a team wins just one of its three group games, it has a good chance of advancing, especially if its goal differential is positive or close to even. A third place team with two points or fewer will probably not advance to the Round of 32. (See our live third place forecast for more.)
Detailed group standings
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Group A
Current standings reflect in-progress results.
Mexico got the 2026 World Cup underway bycomfortably beating South Africa, 2-0, in a match that saw three players sent off with a red card. Mexico is now virtually assured of a berth in the Round of 32 and is in a terrific position to win the group.
Sharing first place is South Korea, who beat the Czech Republic 2-1 Thursday. Like Mexico, South Korea is already very likely to advance; a win or tie in its next match is essentially all it needs.
The Czech Republic is in third after its loss, but they still have a clear path to the Round of 32. Our forecast still gives them more than a 50 percent chance to advance, most likely with a third-place berth.
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South Africa’sloss to Mexico has put them at the bottom of Group D and already at a disadvantage to make the knockout round. A win in either of their remaining group games would give them a good chance. The Czech Republic is next, on June 18.
All four teams have a point after both of Group B’s opening matches ended in draws. Canada (which tiedBosnia and Herzegovina 1-1) and Qatar (which tiedSwitzerland 1-1) both earned their first ever point at the World Cup — and will be looking for more.
Canada, one of the tournament’s co-hosts, remains the slight favorite to win the group. Neither Canada nor Bosnia and Herzegovina have ever reached the knockout rounds; both are now well-positioned to do so.
Qatar secured its draw with a dramatic goal in stoppage time (ruled an own goal by Switzerland), but it remains the least likely team to advance out of the group.
Scotland sits atop the standings after opening play with a momentous 1-0 win over Haiti. Scotland had not played in the World Cup in 28 years and had not won a World Cup game since 1990. Now the team is well-positioned to make it to the knockout rounds for the first time.
Brazil tied Morocco 1-1 in what was one of the marquee matchups of the group stage. Both teams would be basically assured a Round of 32 berth if they win at least one of their remaining games.
Haiti’s path forward is difficult. It likely needs a win in either of its remaining games to have a realistic chance to advance.
The United States began its World Cup run with a emphatic 4-1 win against Paraguay and remains the favorite in Group D. The Americans can win the group outright on Friday if they beat Australia and Paraguay wins or draws against Turkey.
Australia’s surprising 2-0 win over Turkey means it realistically needs only a point from its final two games to make it into the Round of 32. If Australia upsets the United States, it would be in a great position to win the group — and would send the Americans toward a much tougher opponent in the Round of 32.
Still, Group D is the most evenly matched group of the tournament, and any of the four teams could realistically advance.
Germany engineered a 7-1 win over Curacao to start its World Cup in dominant fashion. With the win, Germany is nearly certain to advance to the knockout rounds, likely as the group winner.
Ivory Coast scored a late goal in a 1-0 win against Ecuador,solidly positioning itself to advance. Ecuador, which finished second in the South American qualifying round robin, will likely need at least one win in its final two games to secure a Round of 32 berth.
Curacao, the smallest nation in the tournament, already faces steep odds; it would likely need at least a win and a draw to advance.
Sweden leads the group after cruising to a 5-1 win over Tunisia. Sweden will be thankful for both the result and the goal differential; it has two challenging opponents ahead.
The Netherlands opened play with a 2-2 draw against Japan, though it remains well-positioned to win Group F. Japan’s late equalizer capped what was one of the most thrilling games of the group stage, with all four goals scored in the second half — and gave Japan a strong result against the group’s best team.
It’s still early, but our estimates put Group F among those best-positioned to send a third-place team to the knockout rounds.
Group G began with a pair of draws, leaving all four teams with a point.
Belgium, which has an experienced core of international stars, remains the clear favorite. Egypt is still seeking its first World Cup win after giving up a second-half goal to Belgium. With a point already in hand, both teams are in a good position to advance. A win in either game would do it.
The entertaining 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand gives both countries a clear path, too — if either team wins one of its remaining games. Neither team has reached the knockout rounds before.
This was always expected to be a top-heavy group, with the best two teams, Spain and Uruguay, dictating what’s possible for the other two. But the outsiders, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, have so far kept up with the favorites.
In its World Cup debut, Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw — a stunning result against the European champions. Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, became the star with seven key saves. Still, Spain should have no trouble advancing to the knockout rounds and is heavily favored to win the group.
Uruguay scored late to tie Saudi Arabia 1-1, but Cape Verde would likely need to pull off another shocking result to keep Uruguay from the Round of 32.
France, our forecast’s favorite to win the tournament, opened with a 3-1 win against Senegal. After a slow start, France came to life in the second half, which included two goals from Kylian Mbappe. France is heavily favored to reach the knockout rounds as the winner of Group I. Senegal still has a good chance to advance but will need to win one of its remaining games.
Norway returned to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a dominant 4-1 performance against Iraq. In his World Cup debut, Erling Haaland scored twice. Norway is solidly on track to earn a spot in the Round of 32.
Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win against Algeria, tying the record for all-time goals at a men’s World Cup. The reigning World Cup champions were in control throughout; they remain the clear favorites to win the group.
Austria opened with a 3-1 win against Jordan and will likely compete with Algeria for the second position in the group. Jordan, one of the four countries making its World Cup debut, already faces a steep path to the knockout rounds.
Portugal, led by 41-year-old star Cristiano Ronaldo, entered the tournament as one of the top teams but struggled in its first game, tying DR Congo 1-1. For DR Congo, this was a significant result: It hadn’t played in the World Cup in 52 years and had never scored a goal or earned a point until Wednesday night.
Uzbekistan made its World Cup debut but lost 3-1 to Colombia, which has a clear path to winning the group, particularly after Portugal’s unexpected draw.
England kicked off its World Cup run with a thrilling 4-2 win against Croatia, solidifying its position as the group’s clear favorite. England has already essentially guaranteed a spot in the knockout rounds, likely as the group winner. Croatia is still expected to advance; its upcoming games, against Panama and Ghana, should be easier.
Ghana scored a stoppage-time winner against Panama, 1-0, giving the country a great chance to advance, especially if it can earn a point in one of its remaining games.
