How the best third-placed teams work
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four. The top two from every group qualify automatically for the Round of 32, filling 24 of the 32 places. The final 8 places go to the best third-placed teams: the strongest eight of the twelve sides that finish third in their group.
Those twelve third-placed teams are ranked against each other by the same criteria used inside a group: points first, then goal difference, then goals scored, and finally the disciplinary (fair-play) record. The top eight in that combined ranking go through; the bottom four are eliminated.
While the group stage is still being played this ranking is a live projection and can change with every goal. It is only final once all 72 group matches have been played.