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World Cup 2022: Knockout-round scenarios for each team ahead of final group games

Wondering how each team can advance to the knockout rounds of the 2022 World Cup? You've come to the right place.

With just one more day of the second round of group stage games to go, it's becoming clearer and clearer who has realistic chances of making it to the Round of 16. So far, France, Brazil and Portugal are the only teams that have clinched advancement to the next round while Qatar and Canada have been eliminated after their first two games. That leaves 27 teams fighting for the remaining 13 knockout round spots over the final four days of group play.

Here's what you need to know heading into the last set of group stage games on Tuesday.

Group A

1. Netherlands, 7 points (+4 goal difference)

2. Senegal, 6 points (+2)

3. Ecuador, 4 points (+1)

4. Qatar, 0 points (-6)

Tuesday’s games

Netherlands 2, Qatar 0

Senegal 2, Ecuador 1

The Netherlands will face the second-place team in Group B on Saturday in the Round of 16. Senegal will face Senegal.

Group B

1. England, 7 points (+7 goal difference)

2. United States, 5 points (+1)

3. Iran, 3 points (-3)

4. Wales, 1 point (-5)

Tuesday’s games

England 3, Wales 0

United States 1, Iran 0

England will face Senegal at 2 p.m. ET and the United States will play the Netherlands at 10 a.m. ET. Both games are on Fox.

Group C

1. Argentina, 6 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Poland, 4 points (0)

3. Mexico, 4 points (-1)

4. Saudi Arabia, 3 points (-2)

Wednesday’s games

Argentina 2, Poland 0

Mexico 2, Saudi Arabia 1

Argentina sealed the group win with its victory over Poland while the Poles had to sweat out the final minutes. At one point, Poland was only advancing to the second round because it had fewer yellow cards than Mexico. But a very late consolation goal for Saudi Arabia put Poland ahead on goal difference.

Group D

1. France, 6 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Australia, 6 points (-1)

3. Tunisia, 4 point (0)

4. Denmark, 1 point (-2)

Wednesday’s games

Tunisia 1, France 0

Australia 1, France 0

Tunisia did what it needed to do to have a chance to advance but Australia's win over France means the Socceroos are through to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2006.

Group E

1. Japan, 6 points (+1 goal difference)

2. Spain, 4 points (+6)

3. Germany, 4 points (+1)

4. Costa Rica, 3 points (-8)

Thursday’s games

Japan 2, Spain 1

Germany 4, Costa Rica 2

Japan's win meant Spain got into the Round of 16 via goal difference over Germany and eliminated the Germans in the group stage for the second straight World Cup. Japan will take on Croatia in the Round of 16 while Spain plays Morocco.

Group F

1. Morocco, 7 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Croatia, 5 points (+3)

3. Belgium, 4 points (-1)

4. Canada, 0 points (-5)

Thursday’s games

Croatia 0, Belgium 0

Morocco 2, Canada 1

Morocco won the group with its win over Canada while Croatia controlled the game against Belgium and seemed very content for the tie. Morocco will play Spain while Croatia gets Japan.

Group G

1. Brazil, 6 points (+3 goal difference)

2. Switzerland, 3 points (0)

3. Cameroon, 1 point (-1)

4. Serbia, 1 point (-2)

Friday’s games

Brazil vs. Cameroon (2 p.m. ET, Fox)

Serbia vs. Switzerland (2 p.m. ET, FS1)

How each Group G team can advance

Brazil: Already clinched advancement and will win the group with a tie or win.

Switzerland: Will advance with a win. Will advance with a tie with a Brazil win or tie. Can win the group with a win and a Cameroon win and a better goal difference than Brazil.

Cameroon: Will advance with a win and a Serbia win. Will advance with a win and a Switzerland vs. Serbia tie and a better goal difference than Switzerland.

Serbia: Will advance with a win and a Cameroon win and a better goal differential than Cameroon.

Group H

1. Portugal, 6 points (+2 goal differential)

2. South Korea, 4 points (0)

3. Uruguay, 4 points (0)

4. Ghana, 3 points (-2)

Friday’s games

South Korea 2, Portugal 1

Uruguay 2, Ghana 0

Uruguay thought it had enough to go through before Hwang Hee-Chan scored a late winner for the South Koreans. South Korea advanced ahead of Uruguay because it scored four goals in the group stage to Uruguay's two. Uruguay failed to score in its first two group matches.