The 2026 FIFA World Cup will look a little different than previous installments.
World Cup 2026: Third-place standings, tiebreakers explained
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
Starting with the size of the field.
For this year’s World Cup, the field expanded to 48 nations, up from the previous number of 32. This means the field is divided into 12 four-team groups, and it also means that the knockout stage begins with the round of 32, and not the round of 16, as in previous World Cups.
That also means that teams that finish in third place in a group could still advance.
To complete the round of 32, in addition to the top two teams from each group, the eight best third-place teams will move on as well.
Here, we will be tracking the standings among the third-place teams.
World Cup third-place standings
Here are the latest third-place standings. Remember, the top eight advance to the round of 32.
Note: These are the third-place standings following Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, June 18.
Team | Group | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points | FIFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | F | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Brazil | C | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Belgium | G | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Portugal | K | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Spain | H | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Czechia | A | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 40 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | B | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 | 64 |
| Ecuador | E | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 23 |
| Panama | L | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 34 |
| Senegal | I | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 | 15 |
| Jordan | J | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 | 63 |
| Türkiye | H | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 22 |
How do World Cup third-place tiebreakers work?
Here is how FIFA will stack the third-place teams for potential tiebreakers:
- First, the greatest number of points in all group matches
- Second, the goal difference from all group matches
- Third, the number of goals scored in all group matches
- Fourth, a team’s conduct score.
If there are still ties after those four steps are applied, the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.
Update Thursday June 18: Results from Thursday have changed the table a bit. Now Brazil, Belgium, and Portugal are the three teams tied that played in 1-1 draws. As we saw earlier, Portugal drops out due to the three yellow cards — the team conduct score — and Brazil and Belgium are ranked according to their spot in the FIFA rankings. Bosnia and Herzegovina slide into the rankings thanks to the two goals over three matches, dropping Qatar down to fourth place in Group B (and out of these standings).
Previously: Applying those tiebreakers to some of the standings you see above, the Netherlands currently sit atop these standings thanks to that third tiebreaker, and the two goals they scored against Japan.
Then we can look at the four teams that played in 1-1 draws: Brazil, Belgium, Qatar, and Portugal. The next tiebreaker, following points, goal difference, and goals scored, is the team conduct score. Those first three teams each have two yellow cards, while Portugal secured three yellow cards in their 1-1 draw with DR Congo. So Portugal drops out, and the other three remain tied, and are therefore sorted by FIFA Rankings for the moment.
The next tie we can look at is between Czechia, Ecuador, and Panama, teams that lost and have a goal differential of -1. Czechia scored two goals, so they slot into seventh place, leaving Ecuador and Panama fighting for the eighth and final spot (for the moment).
Again, it comes down to the team conduct score between Ecuador and Panama. Ecuador currently has one yellow, while Panama has two. Ecuador slots in as the eighth team, while Panama drops out.
See More:
