As group play winds down at the World Cup, the biggest intrigue might be not who finishes first in a four-team group. It’s who finishes third.

An expanded format for this summer's World Cup in North America has forced FIFA to introduce new rules to determine which teams reach the knockout stage

Eight of the 12 teams which finish third in the group stage will still qualify for the knockouts.

Which teams will reach the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup and who is heading home early?

With the last round of group matches underway, every result carries enormous significance. | Football News