Among the teams qualified for the round of 16, eight countries will come from the third-place spots in their groups, and Senegal could still be one of them. Here’s how this ranking is determined.
This first World Cup with 48 teams introduces a new format for advancing to the knockout stage. Alongside the top two from each group, the eight best third-placed teams from the 2026 World Cup will qualify for the round of 16. This system gives more nations a chance to reach the knockout phase. Out of twelve teams finishing third in their groups, four will have to exit the competition after the group stage, while eight will continue their World Cup journey.
A unique system in the World Cup, though it already exists in other competitions like the Euro or the Africa Cup of Nations.
Finishing among these best third-placed teams can sometimes be crucial. At Euro 2016, Portugal secured this spot after three draws in the group stage, then went on to win the tournament against France (1-0). We can also mention the journey of Côte d’Ivoire during the 2024 AFCON.
To be among the eight best third-placed teams, several criteria are considered by FIFA. Currently, Senegal is among the teams least likely to qualify in this ranking of the best third-placed teams. After losing their first two matches to France (1-3) and Norway (2-3), the Lions must win, preferably by a significant margin, in their final group match against Iraq, scheduled for Friday, June 26 in Toronto (19:00 GMT), while hoping for favorable results in other matches.
The Lions return to training the day after the defeat against Norway. Édouard Mendy is absent. 🦁🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/j1HAW65RNl
— Taggat (@taggatsn) June 23, 2026
Ranking of third-placed teams (current points)
- Sweden
- Scotland
- Algeria
- Paraguay
- Cape Verde
- Belgium
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Czech Republic
- Ecuador
- Bosnia
- Panama
- Senegal
The ranking is primarily based on the number of points each team has earned. As it stands, Sweden occupies the top spot in this provisional ranking, while Senegal sits at the bottom in 12th place and no longer fully controls its destiny.
