World Cup 2022 knockout round scenarios for every team, group

Wondering how each team can advance to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup? You’ve come to the right place.

With just one day left in the second round of group stage play, it’s becoming clearer and clearer who has a realistic chance of making it to the last 16. So far, France, Brazil and Portugal are the only teams to progress to the next round, while Qatar and Canada have been eliminated after their first two matches. That leaves 27 teams fighting for the remaining 13 spots in the knockout stages over the final four days of group play.

Here’s what you need to know heading into the final set of group stage matches on Tuesday.

Group A

1. Netherlands, 4 points (+2 goal difference)

2. Ecuador, 4 points (+2)

3. Senegal, 3 points (0)

4. Qatar, 0 points (-4)

Tuesday’s games

• Netherlands vs. Qatar (10 a.m. ET, Fox)

• Senegal vs. Ecuador (10 a.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group A team can advance

• The Netherlands: A draw against Qatar gives the Dutch promotion. A win over Qatar is good enough to win the group with a better goal difference or more goals than Ecuador if Ecuador wins.

• Ecuador: A draw against Senegal gives promotion. A win over Senegal is good enough to win the group with a better goal difference or more goals scored than the Netherlands if the Netherlands win.

• Senegal: A win against Ecuador takes promotion. A draw is only good enough if Senegal can have a better goal difference or more goals than the Netherlands.

• Qatar: Can’t advance

Group B

1. England, 4 points (+4 goal difference)

2. Iran, 3 points (-2)

3. USA, 2 points (0)

4. Wales, 1 point (-2)

Tuesday’s games

• England vs. Wales (2 p.m. ET, FS1)

• USA vs. Iran (2 p.m. ET, Fox)

How each Group B team can advance

• England: Win the group with a win over Wales and can win promotion with a draw. A draw is good enough to win the group if Iran and USA draw.

• Iran: Can progress with a win and can win the group with a win and an England loss. A draw is good enough to progress as long as Wales don’t beat England.

• United States: Can advance with a win over Iran. Can win the group with a win over Iran and a Wales win over England or a five-goal win over Iran and a draw between England and Wales.

• Wales: Can advance with a win over England and a draw between Iran and the USA.

The story continues

Group C

1. Poland, 4 points (+2 goal difference)

2. Argentina, 3 points (+1)

3. Saudi Arabia, 3 points (-1)

4. Mexico, 1 point (-2)

Wednesday’s games

• Poland vs. Argentina (2 p.m. ET, Fox)

• Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico (2 p.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group C team can advance

• Poland: Wins the group with a win over Argentina. Will advance with a draw. Can advance with a loss to Argentina if Mexico beats Saudi Arabia and has a better goal difference than Mexico.

• Argentina: Advances with a win or draw. Wins the group with a win over Poland and Mexico win over Saudi Arabia. Can win the group with a win and a Saudi Arabia win if the Saudis have a worse goal difference. Can advance with a tie if Mexico beats Saudi Arabia by two or fewer goals.

• Saudi Arabia: Moving on with a win. Can win the group with a win and a draw between Poland and Argentina. Can progress with a draw if Poland beat Argentina.

• Mexico: Moving on with a win and Polish win over Argentina. Can progress with a win and a draw between Argentina and Poland with a better goal difference than Argentina. Can progress with a win and Argentina win with a better goal difference than Poland.

Group D

1. France, 6 points (+4 goal difference)

2. Australia, 3 points (-2)

3. Denmark, 1 point (-1)

4. Tunisia, 1 point (-1)

Wednesday’s games

• France vs. Tunisia (10 a.m. ET, Fox)

• Denmark vs. Australia (10 a.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group D team can advance

• France: Already promoted and can win the group with a draw or win.

• Australia: Moving on with a win. Can advance with a draw if France beat or tie Tunisia.

• Denmark: Will advance with win and France win or draw with Tunisia.

• Tunisia: Moving on with a win and a draw between Denmark and Australia.

Group E

1. Spain, 4 points (+7 goal difference)

2. Japan, 3 points (0)

3. Costa Rica, 3 points (-6)

4. Germany, 1 point (-1)

Thursday’s games

• Spain vs. Japan (2 p.m. ET, Fox)

• Germany vs. Costa Rica (2 p.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group E team can advance

• Spain: Win group with win or draw. Can advance by losing on a superior goal difference if they draw with either Costa Rica or Germany.

• Japan: Win group with victory. Can advance with a draw and better goal difference than Costa Rica and Germany if both teams finish with 4 points.

• Costa Rica: Win the group with a win and a draw between Japan and Spain. Will advance with win or draw and Spain win.

• Germany: Moving on with a win and a win in Spain. Advances with win and draw Spain with Japan with better goal difference or more goals than Japan.

Group F

1. Croatia, 4 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Morocco, 4 points (+2)

3. Belgium, 3 points (-1)

4. Canada, 0 points

Thursday’s games

• Croatia vs. Belgium (10 a.m. ET, Fox)

• Canada vs. Morocco (10 a.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group F team can advance

• Croatia: Win the group and Morocco draw or lose. Will win group with victory and Moroccan victory and better goal difference. Will advance with a draw.

• Morocco: Win the group with a win and a draw or loss in Croatia. Wins group with win and win in Croatia and better goal difference. Will advance with a draw and Croatia win or draw.

• Belgium: Win the group and Morocco draw or lose. Advances with a draw and a Morocco loss.

• Canada: Can’t advance

Group G

1. Brazil, 6 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Switzerland, 3 points (0)

3. Cameroon, 1 point (-1)

4. Serbia, 1 point (-2)

Friday’s games

• Brazil vs. Cameroon (2 p.m. ET, Fox)

• Serbia vs. Switzerland (2 p.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group G team can advance

• Brazil: Already promoted and will win the group with a draw or win.

• Switzerland: Moving on with a win. Will progress with a draw with a Brazil win or draw. Can win the group with a win and a Cameroon win and a better goal difference than Brazil.

• Cameroon: Moving on with a win and a Serbia win. Will advance with a win and a draw between Switzerland and Serbia and a better goal difference than Switzerland.

• Serbia: Advances with a win and a Cameroon win and a better goal difference than Cameroon.

Group H

1. Portugal, 6 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Ghana, 3 points (0)

3. South Korea, 1 point (-1)

4. Uruguay, 1 point (-2)

Friday’s games

• Portugal vs. South Korea (10 a.m. ET, Fox)

• Uruguay vs. Ghana (10 a.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group H team can advance

• Portugal: Already promoted and will win the group with a draw or win.

• Ghana: Advances with a win or draw. Win the group with a win and South Korea win and a better goal difference than Portugal.

• South Korea: Will advance with a win and a Uruguay win over Ghana and a better goal difference than Uruguay.

• Uruguay: Will advance with a win and a Portugal win over South Korea and a better goal difference than South Korea.