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Editorial Use Only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Shopland/Shutterstock (13634940y) Bruno Fernandes of Portugal . Portugal v Uruguay, FIFA World Cup 2022, Group H, Football, Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen, Qatar - 28 Nov 2022

World Cup Group Stage Breakdown: Where do all 32 nations stand ahead of Matchday 3 in Qatar?

2022 World Cup Group Standings (through Matchday 2)

Group A:

Netherlands 4

Ecuador 4

Senegal 3

(X) Qatar 0

The Netherlands will qualify for the knockout stage with a win or draw versus Qatar on Matchday 3, while Ecuador will also advance with a win or a draw. Senegal needs to defeat Ecuador to qualify, although technically, the Senegalese could advance with a draw versus Ecuador combined with Qatar upsetting the Dutch by more than two goals. All three countries are still live to win Group A, with the Netherlands and Ecuador each sitting nicely with a +2 goal differential and three goals scored apiece. Group A’s winner will face the runner-up of Group B (England, Iran, USA, Wales) on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. The Group A runner-up will face the Group B winner on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, Qatar. A Round of 16 clash between the Netherlands and England is very much in play here.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022

Group B:

England 4

Iran 3

USA 2

Wales 1

England can qualify for the knockout round with a win or draw. The Three Lions can also qualify with a loss to Wales (by less than six goals) combined with a USA draw or loss. Iran can qualify with either a win or draw versus the USA, while the USA can only qualify with an outright victory. Iran and the USA can still win Group B, although it would take unlikely scenarios for either to happen. Wales needs both a major upset win against England and a loss by Iran to the USA to qualify for the knockout stage. Iran is one of only two teams to allow six or more goals so far at the World Cup, which should be a sigh of relief for a young and talented USA team that has struggled to score with only one goal in two matches so far. The USA also holds a two-goal differential advantage over Wales if there were to be a tiebreaker between the two nations, although a four-goal gap between the Americans and England could also come into play in that same scenario. The winner of Group B will match up against the runner-up of Group A in the Round of 16 on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022

Group C:

Poland 4

Argentina 3

Saudi Arabia 3

Mexico 1

Poland can qualify for the knockout stage with either a draw or an upset victory over No. 3-ranked Argentina. The Argentines qualify with a win versus Poland as well, although Lionel Messi’s squad could still qualify with a draw versus Poland combined with a Saudi Arabia draw or loss by less than three goals to Mexico. Saudi Arabia, just like Poland and Argentina above, qualifies for the knockout round with a win. The Saudi Arabians can also qualify with a draw combined with a loss by Argentina or a loss combined with Argentina losing by one more goal. (i.e., Saudi Arabia loses 1-0, and Argentina loses 2-0 would see Saudi Arabia advance). Mexico, despite being in last place in the Group C standings, can qualify with a win combined with a Poland victory over Argentina. Mexico can also qualify by defeating Saudi Arabia and somehow making up a large goal differential gap on Poland and Argentina, an unlikely task.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022

Group D:

(Y) France 6

Australia 3

Denmark 1

Tunisia 1

France’s ticket to the knockout round has already been punched after its decisive victory over Denmark. Australia qualifies with a win versus Denmark or a draw versus Denmark coupled with a Tunisia draw or loss. Denmark needs a win versus Australia to qualify, while Tunisia’s path to the Round of 16 is a bit more complicated. The Tunisians need a victory over France, combined with an Australian loss to Denmark in which Tunisia wins by more goals than Denmark. Tunisia can also qualify by defeating France and an Australia versus Denmark draw. While France has already qualified, it technically still has not won the group. The French can still win Group D with a draw coupled with an Australia loss or draw. The Group D winner will play against the runner-up of Group C on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The Group D runner-up will face the Group C winner on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022

Group E:

Spain 4

Japan 3

Costa Rica 3

Germany 1

Spain needs a win or draw versus Japan to advance, although the Spanish can still qualify for the knockout stage with a loss combined with a draw between Costa Rica and Germany. If Japan does not beat Spain on Matchday 3, it will need to force a draw and have a draw occur in the Costa Rica versus Germany match. Costa Rica, despite losing 7-0 in its opening match against Spain, can still qualify for the Round of 16 with a victory over Germany or a draw versus Germany combined with a loss by Japan. The No. 11-ranked Germans need a win and a loss by either Spain or Japan, with the latter appearing to be the more likely scenario. The Group E winner will battle the Group F runner-up on Monday, Dec. 5, at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. The Group E runner-up will face the Group F winner on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022

Group F:

Croatia 4

Morocco 4

Belgium 3

(X) Canada 0

The 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatians can advance with a win or a draw coupled with a Morocco loss to Canada. Morocco needs just a win or draw to qualify. The No. 2-ranked Belgians will advance with a victory over Croatia. Belgium can also still advance with a draw versus Croatia plus a loss by Morocco by more than three goals, although that’s as unlikely a scenario as we can get during Matchday 3 play. Canada is just one of two teams to have already been eliminated from knockout stage contention, along with host nation Qatar. If Belgium defeats Croatia and Morocco loses to Canada, then the second spot in Group F will come down to a tiebreaker on goal differential or total goals scored between the Croatians and the Moroccans.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022

Group G:

(Y) Brazil 6

Switzerland 3

Cameroon 1

Serbia 1

Brazil is one of three countries to have already qualified for the Round of 16, and the Brazilians can also win Group G with either a win or draw versus Cameroon or a straight-up Switzerland loss. The Swiss get in with either a win or a draw versus Serbia, while the Serbians can only qualify with both a win versus Switzerland and a Cameroon loss to Brazil. Cameroon still has a chance to qualify, although it will take one of the greatest World Cup upsets in history. The Cameroonians either need a win versus Brazil and a Switzerland loss, or a scenario in which they defeat Brazil by more than one goal combined with a draw between Serbia and Switzerland. The Group G (likely Brazil) winner will square off against the Group H runner-up on Monday, Dec. 5, at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar. The Group G runner-up will play against the Group H (likely Portugal) winner on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Friday, Dec. 2, 2022

Group H:

(Y) Portugal 6

Ghana 3

South Korea 1

Uruguay 1

Portugal is one of three teams to qualify early for the knockout stage, along with powerhouse nations France and Brazil. The Portuguese can win Group H outright if Ghana loses to Uruguay, but they can also win the group with either a win or a draw versus No. 28-ranked South Korea. The No. 61-ranked Ghanaians can make the last 16 with a win or draw versus Uruguay, but with a draw, they’ll also need to have a better goal differential than South Korea if the Asian Tigers were to upset Portugal. South Korea needs a major upset win versus Portugal and a Ghana loss or draw versus Uruguay to qualify for the knockout stage. Uruguay, which has yet to score a goal in two World Cup matches, needs both a win versus Ghana and a South Korea loss or draw versus Portugal to continue their streak of knockout stage appearances. If both South Korea and Uruguay win, then it will come down to tiebreakers to determine the second team.

Matchday 3 of 3 (final group match) – Friday, Dec. 2, 2022

Y = Already has clinched one of two group qualifying spots for the knockout stage

X = Already has been eliminated from qualifying out of the group stage

Tuesday’s Schedule (Nov. 29, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3

Wednesday’s Schedule (Nov. 30, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3

Thursday’s Schedule (Dec. 1, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3

Friday’s Schedule (Dec. 2, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3

Rd of 16: Saturday, Dec. 3

Rd of 16: Sunday, Dec. 4

Rd of 16: Monday, Dec. 5

Rd of 16: Tuesday, Dec. 6

2022 World Cup groups

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