- France was the first team to progress, while Qatar and Canada, and Iran were out
- Brazil and Portugal have both qualified after their second fixtures
- We will update these calculations after every fixture
Which team needs what to make it through to the group stage at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022? And which team could soon be on their way home?
With Matchday 2 now complete, FIFA+ has analyzed all the critical scenarios moving forward.
Group A – final standings
- Netherlands
- Senegal
- Ecuador
- Qatar
Group B – final standings
- England
- USA
- IR Iran
- Wales
Group C
Saudi Arabia v Mexico (30 November, 22:00 local time), Poland v Argentina (30 November, 22:00 local time)
- A win will qualify Poland with a win or a draw. Still, it would be kicked out by a defeat and a Saudi Arabia victory. If Poland loses and Saudi Arabia draws, both teams will have to be separated by goal difference. If Poland loses and Mexico win, the Goal difference will also decide their fate.
- Argentina must win to be sure of making it through the group stage, while a tie would be enough if Mexico and Saudi Arabia also tie. However, a draw with a Saudi Arabia win would also see La Albiceleste knocked out. A tie and a Mexico win take the group to a goal difference. Argentina is knocked out if they lose.
- Saudi Arabia will make it through the Round of 16 if they win. A tie would be enough if Poland defeated Argentina, but they will go out if both matches are tied. Should Argentina defeat Poland and Saudi Arabia tie, the goal difference will decide the progress between the European and Middle East sides. Defeat would see them knocked out.
- Mexico must win to have any chance of staying in the competition. They will be sure to go through if Poland wins. If they win and Argentina and Poland draw, it will come down to the goal difference with Argentina. If Argentina wins, a goal difference will be required to separate Mexico and Poland.
Group D
Tunisia-France (30 November, 18:00 local time) Australia-Denmark (30 November, 18:00 local time)
- 2018 champions, France is already through the group stage and will top the group unless they lose to Tunisia. Australia beat Denmark, leaving them tied on six points with the Socceroos.
- A win will see Australia qualify. A tie would be enough unless Tunisia beats France, which would see the North African side go through on goal difference.
- If they do so, Denmark must win against Australia. It will be sure to qualify unless Tunisia beats France, leaving them tied on four points with the Carthage Eagles.
- Tunisia must beat France and hope Denmark avoids defeat by Australia to be able to qualify.
Group E
Costa Rica-Germany (1 December, 22:00 local time) Japan-Spain (1 December, 22:00 local time)
- Spain will qualify for Round 16 with a win or a tie. Defeat to Japan will leave them relying on their superior goal difference to progress unless Costa Rica beats Germany. In this case, Spain will be knocked out.
- Samurai Japan can go through with a victory against Spain. At the same time, a tie and deadlock in Costa Rica v Germany clash will confirm their progress. They will go out if Spain beats them or the match ends in a draw and Costa Rica triumphs against Germany. If they tie and Germany wins against Costa Rica will need a goal difference to determine their fate.
- Costa Rica can reach the last 16 by defeating 2014 champions Germany. A tie for Luis Fernando Suarez’s side will guarantee a spot in the next phase if Spain overcomes Japan. Still, if the current group leaders are beaten, goal difference comes into play. A tie in both games or a defeat for Costa Rica will knock them out.
- Four-time champions Germany must pick up three points to stay in contention. Victory over Costa Rica and a win for Spain against Japan will qualify them. A draw between German and the Samurai Blue, or a win for Japan, would take the equation to goal difference. All other results would see Gemanys men out of the tournament.
Group F
Canada-Morocco (1 December, 18:00 local time) Croatia-Belgium (1 December, 18:00 local time)
- Croatia is qualified if they win or draw. Defeat would leave them needing to eliminate Canada to overcome Morocco. In this scenario, Zlatko Dalic’s side would need a goal difference to separate from the Atlas Lions.
- Morocco is qualified if they win or tie. A defeat would leave them needing Belgium to overcome Croatia. In this case, goal difference would be required to decide whether they or the 2018 runners-up make it to the Round of 16.
- Belgium will progress with a victory over Croatia. Defeat will see them kicked out. A tie will only be enough if Morocco is beaten by Canada, with a goal difference set to decide where Belgium and Walid Regragui’s outfit finish in Group F.
- Canada is already out of the tournament after losing their opening two matches.
Group G
Serbia-Switzerland (2 December, 22:00 local time) Cameroon-Brazil (2 December, 22:00 local time)
- Five-time champions Brazil is through the group stage and will finish top of the group if they tie or win. If Brazil loses and Switzerland win, the top spot will be decided by goal difference.
- Switzerland will be out if Serbia beats them, but through with a win. Should they take all three points, the goal difference would decide the group’s top spot if Brazil loses against Cameroon. If Switzerland draws, they would be through if Brazil wins or draw. But if Cameroon beats Brazil and Switzerland takes a point, then the second place will be determined by goal difference.
- Cameroon, Serbia, and both need to win to have still a chance to make it through. If both teams win, the second place will be decided by the goal difference between the two.
Group H
Ghana-Uruguay (2 December, 18:00 local time) Korea Republic-Portugal (2 December, 18:00 local time)
- Portugal is already through and can secure the top spot with a tie or a win against the Korean Republic.
- Ghana can make it through the group stage with a win against Uruguay. If they tie, they will go through if the Korean Republic does not beat Portugal. If the Asian side wins, the second place would be decided by the goal difference between them and Ghana.
- Uruguay and the Korean Republic will be out if they lose or draw. Uruguay can still go through with a victory if the Korean Republic doesn’t beat Portugal. If both teams triumph, the goal difference will determine the second spot.
Tiebreaker information
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the completion of the group stage. the following criteria, in the order below, shall be applied to decide the ranking: • Step 1: an (a) the most significant number of points obtained in all group matches;
(b) superior goal difference in all group matches;
(c) a most significant number of goals scored in all group matches.
• Step 2: If two or more teams in the same group are equally based on the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
(d) the most significant number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
(e) superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
(f) a most significant number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
(g) the highest team conduct score relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained;
(h) drawing of lots by FIFA.
Read the official FIFA World Cup regulations for more information
This list is for news and does not contain every potential scenario. It is without guarantee and requires definitive confirmation from FIFA.
Which side needs what to qualify? Permutations explained
good information.