Later today, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will get underway. There are two matches on Thursdays docket: Host team Mexico gets things started against South Africa, while a little later South Korea will square off with Czechia.And in short order, the other 44 teams will join the fray.Here, we are keeping track of the standings for each of the 12 groups at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. You can also learn about how tiebreakers are determined, and how the eight best third-place teams will be decided, as those teams will join the top two teams from each group in the round of 32.World Cup group standingsGroup A standingsHere are the final Group A standings.TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsMexico30060+69South Africa11123-14South Korea10223-13Czechia01226-41Group A scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group A:Thursday, June 11Mexico 2, South Africa 0South Korea 2, Czechia 1Thursday, June 18Czechia 1, South Africa 1Mexico 1, South Korea 0Wednesday, June 24South Africa 1, South Korea 0Mexico 3, Czechia 0Group B standingsHere are the final Group B standings:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsSwitzerland21073+47Canada11183+54Bosnia and Herzegovina11156-14Qatar012210-81Group B scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group B:Friday, June 12Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1Saturday, June 13Qatar 1, Switzerland 1Thursday, June 18Switzerland 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1Canada 6, Qatar 0Wednesday, June 24Switzerland 2, Canada 1Bosnia and Herzegovina 3, Qatar 1Group C standingsHere are the final Group C standings.TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsBrazil21071+67Morocco21063+37Scotland10214-33Haiti00328-60Group C scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group C:Saturday, June 13Brazil 1, Morocco 1Scotland 1, Haiti 0Friday, June 19Morocco 1, Scotland 0Brazil 3, Haiti 0Wednesday, June 24Morocco 4, Haiti 2Brazil 3, Scotland 0Group D standingsHere are the final standings in Group D:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsUnited States20184+46Australia1112204Paraguay11124-24Trkiye10235-23Group D scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group D:Friday, June 12United States 4, Paraguay 1Sunday, June 14Australia 2, Trkiye 0Friday, June 19United States 2, Australia 0Paraguay 1, Trkiye 0Thursday, June 25Trkiye 3, United States 2Paraguay 0, Australia 0Group E standingsHere are the final Group E standings.TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsGermany201104+66Ivory Coast2014226Ecuador1112204Curaao01219-81Group E scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group E:Sunday, June 14Germany 7, Curaao 1Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0Saturday, June 20Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1Ecuador 0, Curaao 0Thursday, June 25Ivory Coast 2, Curaao 0Ecuador 2, Germany 1 Group F standingsHere are the final Group F standingsTeamWDLGFGAGDPointsNetherlands210104+67Japan12073+45Sweden1117704Tunisia003212-100Group F scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group F:Sunday, June 14Netherlands 2, Japan 2Sweden 5, Tunisia 1Saturday, June 20Netherlands 5, Sweden 1Sunday, June 21Japan 4, Tunisia 0Thursday, June 25Netherlands 3, Tunisia 1Japan 1, Sweden 1Group G standingsHere are the final Group G standingsTeamWDLGFGAGDPointsBelgium12062+45Egypt12053+25Iran0303303New Zealand012410-61Group G scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group G:Monday, June 15Belgium 1, Egypt 1Iran 2, New Zealand 2Sunday, June 21Belgium 0, Iran 0Egypt 3, New Zealand 1Friday, June 26Belgium 5, New Zealand 1Egypt 0, Iran 0Group H standingsHere are the final standings in Group H:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsSpain21050+57Cabo Verde0302204Uruguay02134-12Saudi Arabia01215-41Group H scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group H:Monday, June 15Spain 0, Cabo Verde 0Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1Sunday, June 21Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0Uruguay 2, Cabo Verde 2Friday, June 26Cabo Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0Spain 1, Uruguay 0Group I standingsHere are the final standings in Group I.TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsFrance300102+89Norway20187+16Senegal10286+23Iraq003112-110Group I scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group I:Tuesday, June 16France 3, Senegal 1Norway 4, Iraq 1Monday, June 22France 3, Iraq 0Norway 3, Senegal 2Friday, June 26France 4, Norway 1Senegal 5, Iraq 0Group J standingsHere are the final standings in Group J:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsArgentina30081+79Austria1116604Algeria11157-24Jordan00338-50Group J scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group J:Tuesday, June 16Argentina 3, Algeria 0Wednesday, June 17Austria 3, Jordan 1Monday, June 22Argentina 2, Austria 0Algeria 2, Jordan 1Saturday, June 27Algeria 3, Austria 3Argentina 3, Jordan 1Group K standingsHere are the final standings in Group K:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsColombia21041+37Portugal12061+55DR Congo1114314Uzbekistan003211-90Group K scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group K:Wednesday, June 17Portugal 1, DR Congo 1Colombia 3, Uzbekistan 1Tuesday, June 23Portugal 5, Uzbekistan 0Colombia 1, DR Congo 0Saturday, June 27Colombia 0, Portugal 0DR Congo 3, Uzbekistan 1Group L standingsHere are the final standings in Group L:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsEngland21062+47Croatia2015506Ghana1112204Panama00304-40Group L scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group L:Wednesday, June 17England 4, Croatia 2Ghana 1, Panama 0Tuesday, June 23England 0, Ghana 0Croatia 1, Panama 0Saturday, June 27England 2, Panama 0Croatia 2, Ghana 1Who advances to the knockout round at the World Cup?With the expansion of the field to 48 nations, the knockout round will look a little different at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Rather than beginning with a round of 16, the knockout stage will begin with a round of 32. Thats right, 32 out of the 48 nations will advance to the knockout rounds: The top two teams in each group will be the first 24 teams, and then the other eight will be the eight best third-place teams. How do tiebreakers work at the World Cup?Finally, a word on tiebreakers at the World Cup.If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches betwen the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.How are the third-place teams ranked?Here is how FIFA will stack the third-place teams.First, the greatest number of points in all group matches.Second, the goal difference from all group matches.Third, the number of goals scored in all group matches.Fourth, the team conduct score.If there are still ties after those four steps are applied, the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.