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For the first time in a FIFA World Cup, finishing third in your group does not necessarily mean going home.
With 48 teams competing in 2026, FIFA has expanded the field to include the eight best third-place finishers in all 12 groups. The top two teams in each group automatically advance, and the remaining eight spots in the 32-team knockout bracket go to the third-highest ranked teams, determined by points, goal difference, goals scored and other tiebreakers.
That means 12 teams will compete for eight spots, and the race to stay in the top eight is one of the most exciting subplots of the final days of the group stage.
Here’s where the third place standings stand ahead of the final round of group stage matches on June 23.
World Cup Third Place Ranking
| Rank | Team | MP | WDL | Girlfriend | Georgia | DG | SPT |
| 1 | Suede | 2 | 1-0-1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Scotland | 2 | 1-0-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Algeria | 2 | 1-0-1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 4 | Paraguay | 2 | 1-0-1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 5 | Cape Verde | 2 | 0-2-0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Belgium | 2 | 0-2-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | DR Congo | 1 | 0-1-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Czechia | 2 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| Cutting line | |||||||
| 9 | Ecuador | 2 | 0-1-1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 10 | Bosnia-Herz. | 2 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
| 11 | Panama | 1 | 0-0-1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 12 | Senegal | 2 | 0-0-2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
The rankings for third place will change significantly over the next two days as the final round of group stage matches are played out. Follow live standings on FOXSports.com and watch every game on FOX and FS1, streaming live on FOX One.
Standings at the end of the match against Portugal on June 23.
