The top three of the World Championship.. Who are fighting for the eight places and what are the decision rules?

As the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the competition is not limited to the direct qualification of the first and second place in each group, but rather extends to another battle, which is no less exciting between the third-placed teams, given the new system of the tournament, which allocates 8 additional places to the 1st and 2nd best places in Group 2.

Ahead of the start of the third and final round, the scoreboard looks open to all possibilities as the only difference between many teams is goal difference or number of goals scored, allowing each goal in the finals to completely change the map of the qualifiers.

View the full group standings after the first two rounds

Who are the top eight so far?

Group Six side Sweden lead the best third-placed table so far by three points after scoring six goals and conceding the same on goal difference.

From Group C, the Scottish team is in second place with 3 points, scoring one more goal and conceding one goal.

From the last group, the Croatian team occupies the third place in this race with 3 points and goal difference (-1).

Then, from Group 10, Algeria sit fourth with 3 points and a goal difference (-2), level with Group Four Paraguay, after the Greens scored twice and conceded 4 goals, the same as the Latin team.

In sixth place is the Cape Verdean side from Group Eight with two points from two draws, after scoring two goals and conceding the same, ahead of Group 7 Belgium, who have the same points ratio and goal difference but have scored just one goal.

As for the eighth and last place to qualify for the round of 32, it is occupied by the Czech Republic from Group A with one point and a goal difference (-1), scoring 2 and conceding 3 goals.

Thirds are out of the race

Outside the qualification zone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in 9th place from Group 11 with one point and goal difference (-1) after scoring one goal and conceding two goals, while Ecuador from Group 5 is tenth with the same points and goal difference but with fewer goals.

Group 2 team Bosnia and Herzegovina is in eleventh place with one point and goal difference (-3), while Group 9 Senegal is in 3rd place without a point after two defeats and 3-for-6 conceding.

Ranking of the best third place finishers before the third round

Sweden: 3 points

Scotland: 3 points

Croatia: 3 points

Algeria: 3 points

Barajai: 3 points

Cape Verde: 2 points

Belgium: 2 points

Czech Republic: one point

Outside the qualifying zone

Democratic Republic of the Congo: one point

Ecuador: one point

Bosnia and Herzegovina – one point

Senegal. no points

How does FIFA decide the best third-place finishers?

According to Article 13 FIFA regulationsThe third place teams in the groups are classified according to the following criteria.

1- Most points scored in all group matches.

2- The best goal difference in all matches of the group.

3- Most goals scored in all group matches.

4- The highest score for the disciplinary behavior of the team (players and members of the technical staff) based on the number of yellow and red cards in all group matches.

5- Tie teams will be ranked according to the latest published version of the FIFA World Ranking.

6. If a tie persists, the teams will be ranked according to the immediately preceding version of the FIFA classification, continuing to refer to the previous versions consecutively until the classification is determined.