World Cup 2026 standings, explained: Updated scenarios for Messi, Ronaldo and more on final day
The World Cup has reached the final day of group stage action, but the fun is just getting started for some.
By the end of Saturday night, 32 of the 48 teams in the expanded field will know not only whether they are moving onto the knockout stage, but also where, when and who they are playing in the Round of 32.
Many teams already know their path forward, but Saturday’s games — which feature Argentina, England, Portugal and more — will finalize the bracket.
Here’s a look at the standings and scenarios for the groups in action in Saturday’s World Cup games.
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Group L scenarios
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. England | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
| 2. Ghana | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| 3.Croatia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 4. Panama — E | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
England vs. Panama
England will qualify for the knockout stage with a win or draw against Panama. A win alone won’t guarantee England wins Group L, but Ghana would have to beat Croatia and gain at least one goal on England in the goal differential margin to win Group L.
In the event of a draw, England can only win Group L if Ghana and Croatia also draw. An England draw means the winner of Ghana vs. Croatia, if there is one, would win the group.
England cannot win Group L in the event of an upset loss, but four points would be enough for the squad to qualify either automatically as a second-place team or as a third-place team.
Panama is eliminated and will finish fourth in Group L regardless of Saturday’s result.
Croatia vs. Ghana
Ghana is presumably headed to the knockout stage regardless with four points but can qualify automatically with a win or draw against Croatia. A win and an England loss or draw would make Ghana the group winner. If England wins, Ghana can only win the group by winning and gaining at least one goal on England in the goal differential tiebreaker.
Read more Argentina vs. Jordan projected lineups, starting 11 for World Cup Group J game in Arlington
Croatia can win the group with a win and an England draw or loss. A draw likely wouldn’t earn Croatia a top-two spot in the group, but an additional point would position the squad to advance as a third-place team. A loss to Ghana would leave Croatia’s fate up to other third-place teams and the goal differential tiebreaker.
WORLD CUP GROUP STANDINGS:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F
Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L
Group K scenarios
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Colombia — Q | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| 2. Portugal | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +5 |
| 3. DR Congo | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 4. Uzbekistan | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | -7 |
- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Colombia vs. Portugal
For Colombia, the path is clear: a win or draw against Portugal wins Group K. Colombia has already qualified for the knockout stage and can only fall to second in the group with a loss to Portugal.
For Portugal, that means only a win over Colombia can win Group K. A draw would guarantee Portugal remains second in the group, while a loss would put them at risk of falling to third only in the unlikely event DR Congo makes up six goals in the goal differential column.
With four points, Portugal is all but assured of a spot in the knockout stage.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan
DR Congo can effectively secure its spot as at least a third-place qualifier with a win over Uzbekistan on Saturday, but moving up to second would require a Portugal loss and DR Congo making up a six-goal gap with Portugal in the goal differential tiebreaker.
A loss would eliminate DR Congo, while a draw would make the chances of advancing as a third-place qualifier impossible.
MORE: Who will USA play in the knockout stage?
Group J scenarios
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Argentina — Q | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 |
| 2. Austria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 3. Algeria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 4. Jordan — E | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | -3 |
- Q = Qualified to Knockout Stage
- E = Eliminated
Argentina vs. Jordan
Saturday’s game is effectively meaningless for both Argentina and Jordan. Argentina has already locked up the Group J win, while Jordan was eliminated with its lost to Algeria.
Austria vs. Algeria
The upside of Argentina vs. Jordan being meaningless is it means Austria vs. Algeria is pivotal. Or, is it? Austria would finish second with a win or draw, while Algeria would finish second with a win. A draw, however, would effectively guarantee both advance to the knockout stage with four points.
Shouldn’t both teams be motivated to finish second? Not necessarily. The second-place team is lining up to face Spain in the Round of 32, so finishing third is at the very least a nearly equal outcome.
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