Yet again it's not coming home. First half was some street ball. Second half was absolutely fantastic though. The US and Mexico have "dos a cero", is Argentina-England going to have "dos a uno"?

Two teams have faced both finalists in this World Cup. Cape Verde drew Spain 0-0 in the group stage and lost 3-2 in extra time to Argentina in the round of 32. Austria lost to Argentina 2-0 in the group stage and to Spain 3-0 in the round of 32.

Argentina has been a late scoring team. They've scored in the 10', 17', 19', 29', 31'(p), 38', 60', 76', 79', 80', 83', 85', 90+2', 90+2', 90+5', 92', 111'(og), 112', and 120+1'. Argentina has nearly scored as many goals after the 75th minute as Spain has the entire tournament.
They've played in Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City twice and Miami once.

In 7 games so far, Spain has had scorelines of 0-0, 4-0, 1-0, 3-0, 1-0, 2-1, and 2-0. The only team to score on Spain is Belgium, the only team Spain couldn't score on is Cape Verde.

They've played twice in LA, twice in Dallas, twice in Atlanta, and once in Guadalajara. Final will be in NY/NJ.

After a full month and 100 games... we're left with the top 4 ranked teams in the semifinals.

E1 Germany      1(3) 
                     | Paraguay  0 
D3 Paraguay     1(4) |             |
I1 France        3                 | France     
                     | France    1 |            |
F3 Sweden        0   |                          |
A2 South Africa  0                              |    
                     | Canada    0              |    |
B2 Canada        1   |             |            |    |
F1 Netherlands  1(2)               | Morocco    |
                     | Morocco   3 |
C2 Morocco      1(3) |


K2 Portugal      2   
                     | Portugal  0 
L2 Croatia       1   |             |
H1 Spain         3                 | Spain      
                     | Spain     1 |            |
J2 Austria       0   |                          |    |
D1 United States 2                              |    |         
                     | USA       1              |
B3 Bos & Herz    0   |             |            |
G1 Belgium       3                 | Belgium    |
               a.e.t | Belgium   4 |
I3 Senegal       2   |


C1 Brazil        2   
                     | Brazil    1 
F2 Japan         1   |             |
E2 Cote D'Ivoire 1                 | Norway     
                     | Norway    2 |            |
I2 Norway        2   |                          |
A1 Mexico        2                              |    
                     | Mexico    2              |    |
E3 Ecuador       0   |             |            |    |
L1 England       2                 | England    |
                     | England   3 |
K3 DR Congo      1   |


J1 Argentina     3   
               a.e.t | Argentina 3 
H2 Cabo Verde    2   |             |
D2 Australia    1(2)               | Argentina  
                     | Egypt     2 |            |
G2 Egypt        1(4) |                          |    |
B1 Switzerland   2                              |    |         
                     | Swiss    0(4)            |
J3 Algeria       0   |              |           |
K1 Colombia      1                  | Swiss     |
                     | Colombia 0(3)|
L3 Ghana         0   |




                         QF/R16/R32/Total
UEFA:                  6/ 7/13/16 (Portugal eliminated)
CONMEBOL: 1/ 4/ 5/ 6 (Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay)
CAF:                    1/ 2/ 9/10 (Egypt)
CONCACAF: 0/ 3/ 3/ 6 (Canada, Mexico, USA)
AFC:                    0/ 0/ 2/ 9 (N/A)
OFC:                   0/ 0/ 0/ 1 (N/A)


Rankings of the remaining matches
1v19; 2v9; 3v7; 4v31

#3 France have beaten 15 Senegal 3-1, 57 Iraq 3-0, 31 Norway 4-1, 38 Sweden 3-0, 41 Paraguay 1-0
#7 Morocco have faced 6 Brazil 1-1, 42 Scotland 1-0, 83 Haiti 4-2, 8 Netherlands 1-1 (p), 30 Canada 3-0

#2 Spain have played 67 Cape Verde 0-0. 61 Saudi Arabia 4-0, 16 Uruguay 1-0. 24 Austria 3-0, 5 Portugal 1-0
#9 Belgium have faced 29 Egypt 1-1, 20 Iran 0-0, 85 New Zealand 5-1, 15 Senegal 3-2 (aet), 17 USA 4-1

#31 Norway played 57 Iraq 4-1, 15 Senegal 3-2, 3 France 1-4, 33 Ivory Coast 2-1, 6 Brazil 2-1
#4 England faced 11 Croatia 4-2, 73 Ghana 0-0, 34 Panama 2-0, 46 DR Congo 2-1, 14 Mexico 3-2

#1 Argentina have beaten 28 Algeria 3-0, 24 Austria 2-0, 63 Jordan 3-1, 67 Cape Verde 3-2 (aet), 29 Egypt 3-2
#19 Switzerland have played 56 Qatar 1-1, 64 B&H 4-1, 30 Canada 2-1, 28 Algeria 2-0, 13 Colombia 0-0 (p)


Only France and Argentina have won every game while Norway is the only remaining team to have a loss.
We've lost one continent in every round which means between Argentina and Morocco one will win and one will lose in the quarterfinals.

Cape Verde faced the #1, 2, and 16 ranked teams who have a combined 6 WC titles and none of them could beat the Blue Sharks in regulation. Plus they scored a total of 4 goals on them.

E1 Germany      1(3) 
                     | Paraguay    
D3 Paraguay     1(4) |             |
I1 France        3                 |            
                     | France      |            |
F3 Sweden        0   |                          |
A2 South Africa  0                              |       
                     | Canada                   |   |
B2 Canada        1   |             |            |   |
F1 Netherlands  1(2)               |            |
                     | Morocco     |
C2 Morocco      1(3) |


K2 Portugal      2   
                     | Portugal    
L2 Croatia       1   |             |
H1 Spain         3                 |            
                     | Spain       |            |
J2 Austria       0   |                          |    |
D1 United States 2                              |    |         
                     | USA                      |
B3 Bos & Herz    0   |             |            |
G1 Belgium       3                 |            |
               a.e.t | Belgium     |
I3 Senegal       2   |


C1 Brazil        2   
                     | Brazil       
F2 Japan         1   |             |
E2 Cote D'Ivoire 1                 |            
                     | Norway      |            |
I2 Norway        2   |                          |
A1 Mexico        2                              |    
                     | Mexico                   |    |
E3 Ecuador       0   |             |            |    |
L1 England       2                 |            |
                     | England     |
K3 DR Congo      1   |


J1 Argentina     3   
               a.e.t | Argentina   
H2 Cabo Verde    2   |             |
D2 Australia    1(2)               |            
                     | Egypt       |            |
G2 Egypt        1(4) |                          |    |
B1 Switzerland   2                              |    |         
                     | Switzerland              |
J3 Algeria       0   |             |            |
K1 Colombia      1                 |            |
                     | Colombia    |
L3 Ghana         0   |


#1 vs #2: 3-1
#1 vs #3: 7-1
#2 vs #2: 4
Remaining
#1: 10
#2: 5
#3: 1


    R16/R32/Total
UEFA: 7/13/16 (Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Croatia, Austria, B&H eliminated)
CONMEBOL: 4/5/6 (Ecuador)
CONCACAF: 3/3/6 (none)
CAF: 2/9/10 (S Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Cape Verde, Algeria, Ghana)
AFC: 0/2/9 (Australia, Japan)
OFC: 0/0/1 (N/A)

And then there were 4 continents left. The AFC had a really disappointing tournament. Only 2 of 9 managed to get out of the group stage and both lost in the round of 32.

I don't understand how so many kicks miss the target in a shootout. That's the golden rule on a PK, hit the target and force the goalie make a save. Australia is the latest to break it by only getting 2 of 4 on target.

Our winning combination of 3rd place teams was #67 (BDEFIJKL). The teams hoping for some help on the final day got none. I'm shocked Iran with 3 pts and 0 GD failed to advance. Iran were cheering as much as Algeria when they scored in stoppage time but their dream was crushed when Austria equalized a few minutes later.
Last WC seven of eight 3rd places had 4 points, but the previous two WC it was only two of eight. This year 7 ended up on 4 points so only the best with 3 points advanced.

Everyone's darlings Cabo Verde are the only team without a win to advance to the knockout round.
Argentina, France, and Mexico are the only teams not to drop a point.
Mexico and Spain are the only teams not to concede a goal.
France, Germany, and Netherlands lead the way with 10 goals scored.


E1 Germany (2-0-1) vs D3 Paraguay (1-1-1)
I1 France (3-0-0) vs F3 Sweden (1-1-1)
A2 South Africa (1-1-1) vs B2 Canada (1-1-1)
F1 Netherlands (2-1-0) vs C2 Morocco (2-1-0)
4 UEFA, 2 CAF, 1 CONCACAF, 1 CONMEBOL

K2 Portugal (1-2-0) vs L2 Croatia (2-0-1)
H1 Spain (2-1-0) vs J2 Austria (1-1-1)
D1 United States (2-0-1) vs B3 Bosnia & Herzegovina (1-1-1)
G1 Belgium (1-2-0) vs I3 Senegal (1-0-2)
6 UEFA, 1 CAF, 1 CONCACAF

C1 Brazil (2-1-0) vs F2 Japan (1-2-0)
E2 Cote D'Ivoire (2-0-1) vs I2 Norway (2-0-1)
A1 Mexico (3-0-0) vs E3 Ecuador (1-1-1)
L1 England (2-1-0) vs K3 DR Congo (1-1-1)
2 CAF, 2 CONMEBOL, 2 UEFA, 1 AFC, 1 CONCACAF

J1 Argentina (3-0-0) vs H2 Cabo Verde (0-3-0)
D2 Australia (1-1-1) vs G2 Egypt (1-2-0)
B1 Switzerland (2-1-0) vs J3 Algeria (1-1-1)
K1 Colombia (2-1-0) vs L3 Ghana (1-1-1)
4 CAF, 2 CONMEBOL, 1 AFC, 1 UEFA

The majority of the top half of the bracket is from UEFA (10) but the bottom half only has 3.
Almost half of the teams eliminated from the group stage (7 of 16) were from AFC

UEFA: 13/16 (Czechia, Scotland, Turkiye eliminated)
CAF: 9/10 (Tunisia)
CONMEBOL: 5/6 (Uruguay)
CONCACAF: 3/6 (Curacao, Haiti, Panama)
AFC: 2/9 (Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan)
OFC: 0/1 (New Zealand)

Wild day of action. We now know 28 of the 32 teams in the knockout stage and 5 of the 3rd place teams. Cabo Verde become the smallest nation to reach the knockout stage after finishing 2nd with three draws and their reward is Argentina. Senegal with their big 5-0 win erase a disappointing tournament to secure their spot in the next round.
47 teams have scored at least once. Only Panama remains without a goal scored but they still have one more game against England. Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and Ghana are the only teams yet to concede a goal. Ghana and Argentina both have games today.


For the final 3rd place advancers
Iran (3 pts, 0 GD) needs 1 result
South Korea (3 pts, -1 GD) needs 2 results
Scotland (3 pts, -3 GD) needs all 3 results.

a) Group J: Austria (3 pts, 0 GD) vs Algeria (3pts, -2 GD)
If they draw they both advance, if someone loses then you look at goal differential.

b) Group K: DR Congo (1 pt, -1 GD) vs Uzbekistan (0 pt, -7 GD)
If DRC win, the group gets 3rd place through. If Uzbekistan wins, they'd need to overcome their massive GD deficit. If they draw both are out.

c) Group L: Croatia (3 pts, -1 GD) vs Ghana (4 pts, +1 GD)
If Croatia gets a result the group gets 3rd place through. If Croatia loses it's down to GD.


We already knew the US will face B&H next but now we now know Belgium is a potential 2nd round opponent. The 3rd place team Belgium will play is still unknown. If South Korea advance it will be them, otherwise it could be Senegal or group J.

Germany (E1) will face Paraguay (D3)
France (I1) will face Sweden (F3)
Mexico (A1) will most likely face Ecuador (E3) unless Scotland (A3) squeaks through then it'll be the Scots.
Switzerland (B1) will most likely face Iran (G3) unless they don't qualify which means they'll face J3

Of the 28 teams we know will advance, UEFA 11/16, CAF 7/10, AFC 2/9. CONCACAF 3/6, CONMEBOL 5/6, OFC 0/1
We could still get a USA vs Canada and Mexico vs Cabo Verde semifinals

Down to 51 combinations of 3rd placed teams. Bosnia & Herzegovina (group B), Ecuador (group E), and Sweden (group F) have qualified while Paraguay (group D) advances in 50 (only combination is if A, C, D, and I are eliminated).

US will face Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Mexico has 23 vs Ecuador, 18 H, 10 Scotland
Switzerland has 25 vs G, 15 J, 8 Ecuador, 2 I, 1 Sweden
Germany has 45 vs Paraguay, 5 Scotland, 1 Sweden
Group G winner has 35 vs South Korea, 8 H, 6 J, 2 I
Group I winner has 49 vs Sweden, 1 Paraguay, 1 G
Group K winner has 26 vs L, 12 Ecuador, 8 I, 4 Paraguay, 1 J
Group L winner has 26 vs K, 13 I, 8 Ecuador, 4 J

If South Korea ends up advancing, they are guaranteed to face the group G winner. That match would be the 2nd round opponent for the US.

Mexico (group A) started with 194 vs group H, 182 E, 97 C, 19 I, 3 F. They currently have 104 vs H, 97 E, 28 C, 14 I, 3 F.

Switzerland (group B) started with 260 vs group G, 190 J, 26 E, 14 I, 5 F. They currently have 118 vs J, 99 G, 14 E, 11 I, 4 F.

Germany (group E) started with 231 vs group C, 212 D, 35 F, 16 A, 1 B. They currently have 107 vs D, 96 C, 27 F, 15 A, 1 B.

Group G started with 314 vs group A, 85 H, 49 J, 41 I, 6 E. They currently have 195 vs A, 24 I, 17 H, 10 J.

Group I started with 276 vs group F, 99 D, 70 G, 48 H, 2 C. They currently have 120 vs F, 55 G, 38 D, 31 H, 2 C.

Group K started with 330 vs group L, 91 I, 48 E, 19 D, 7 J. They currently have 154 vs L, 48 I, 28 E, 9 D, 7 J.

Group L started with 330 vs group K, 113 I, 29 E, 20 J, 3 H. They currently have 154 vs K, 56 I, 19 J, 15 E, 2 H.


Brazil (group C winner) faces 2nd place from group F
Group F winner faces Morocco (2nd place from group C)
Group H winner faces 2nd place from group J
Argentina (Group J winner) faces 2nd place from group H

Of the 495 original possibilities for the 3rd place teams to be, we're already down to 246 (combinations that did not include B or included C but not A have been eliminated).
Originally 329 combinations had the group D winner facing group B's 3rd place, 64 J, 52 I, 39 E, 11 F.
Currently 245 combinations have the US facing B&H. A single combination (A, C, D, F not qualifying) would pit the US against group I.

All the hosts have advanced to the knockout stage.
Mexico wins their group and waits to see which 3rd place team they'll play.
Canada finishes 2nd and will face South Africa.

Quote from: Kuiper on June 22, 2026, 12:50:32 AMCape Verde ties Uruguay 2-2 after tying Spain 0-0 in Game 1!  Quite the first World Cup for the tiny nation made up of ten volcanic islands with a population of about 530K that only became independent in the mid 1970s.  They even still have a chance for the knockout rounds if they can beat Saudi Arabia.   

I think a draw should be good enough for them to advance. A win guarantees a top 2 finish, also with a draw and Spain win. But a 3rd place team on 3 points and 0 goal differential will certainly be one of the 8 to advance.

3rd place standings:
A: likely to only have 1 point
B: would be on 2 points if Bosnia-Qatar draw otherwise it's 4 points
C: likely will be on 3 points with negative GD
D: will either be on 4 points (Australia-Paraguay draw) or 3 points with negative GD
E: would need either Ecuador to beat Germany or Curacao to beat Cote D'Ivoire to have a shot at 3rd place advancing
F: if Sweden lose would be on 3 points and negative GD, otherwise 4 points
G and H (Cabo Verde): both groups are identical, lots of draws so far. Could be on 2 points, 3 points, or 4 points
I: Senegal and Iraq both have 0, a draw eliminates both, a Senegal win might improve their GD enough
J: either on 4 points or on 3 with negative GD
K: depends on DRC-Uzbekistan result. Could be on 2 points (draw), 3 points with terrible GD (Uzbek win), or 4 points (DRC win)
L: at worst 3 points and negative GD, a Croatia result means 4 points

Barring huge upsets, A and E are out. B, G, H, I, and K are the other groups that have possibilities to finish with less than 3 points. If two of those do then any 3rd place with at least 3 points would advance.

Round 1
1. Ryan - Chapman - SCIAC
2. Nescac1 - Williams - NESCAC
3. FCGG - Connecticut College - NESCAC
4. NCF - Nebraska Wesleyan - ARC
5. Ronk - Scranton - LAND
6. Greek - Oswego St - SUNYAC

Round 2
7. Greek - Hardin-Simmons - ASC
8. Ronk - Colby - NESCAC
9. NCF - Oshkosh - WIAC
10. FCGG - Hampden-Sydney - ODAC
11. Nescac1 - Elmhurst - CCIW
12. Ryan - Union - LL

Round 3
13. Ryan - Carthage - CCIW
14. Nescac1 - Trine - MIAA
15. FCGG - Drew - Land
16. NCF - Wheaton - CCIW
17. Ronk - Farmingdale St - Sky
18. Greek - RPI - LL

Round 4
19. Greek - Denison - NCAC
20. Ronk - Monmouth - MWC
21. NCF - Rowan - NJAC
22. FCGG - Stockton - NJAC
23. Nescac1 - Saint John's - MIAC
24. Ryan - DePauw - NCAC

Round 5
25. Ryan - Maryville - SAA
26. Nescac1 - Coe - ARC
27. FCGG - Puget Sound - NWC
28. NCF - Wittenbeg - NCAC
29. Ronk - La Roche - AMCC
30. Greek - St. Norbert College - NACC

Round 6
31. Greek - Olivet - MIAA
32. Ronk - Marymount - AEC
33. NCF - Pitt-Greensburg - AMCC
34. FCGG - SUNY Oneonta - SUNYAC
35. Nescac1 - Ohio Northern - OAC
36. Ryan - Gwynedd Mercy - AEC

Round 7
37. Ryan - Willamette - NWC
38. Nescac1 - Keene State - LEC
39. FCGG - DeSales - MACF
40. NCF - Ursinus - CC
41. Ronk - Lancaster Bible - UEC
42. Greek - Webster - SLIAC

Round 8 of 10
43. Greek - Westfield St - MASCAC
44. Ronk - Lyon - SLIAC
45. NCF - Baruch - CUNYAC
46. FCGG - Salve Regina - NEWMAC
47. Nescac1 - Suffolk - CNE
48. Ryan - Wheaton (MA) - NEWMAC

Round 9 of 10
49. Ryan - Minnesota-Morris - UMAC
50. Nescac1 - Washington & Lee - ODAC
51. FCGG - Sage - E8
52. NCF - Huntingdon -CCS
53. Ronk - Occidental - SCIAC
54. Greek - SUNY-Geneseo - E8

LAST ROUND
55. Greek - St. Joseph CT - GNAC
56. Ronk - Kean - NJAC
57. NCF - Calvin - MIAA
58. FCGG - Franklin - HCAC
59. Nescac1
60. Ryan

Round 1
1. Ryan - Chapman - SCIAC
2. Nescac1 - Williams - NESCAC
3. FCGG - Connecticut College - NESCAC
4. NCF - Nebraska Wesleyan - ARC
5. Ronk - Scranton - LAND
6. Greek - Oswego St - SUNYAC

Round 2
7. Greek - Hardin-Simmons - ASC
8. Ronk - Colby - NESCAC
9. NCF - Oshkosh - WIAC
10. FCGG - Hampden-Sydney - ODAC
11. Nescac1 - Elmhurst - CCIW
12. Ryan - Union - LL

Round 3
13. Ryan - Carthage - CCIW
14. Nescac1 - Trine - MIAA
15. FCGG - Drew - Land
16. NCF - Wheaton - CCIW
17. Ronk - Farmingdale St - Sky
18. Greek - RPI - LL

Round 4
19. Greek - Denison - NCAC
20. Ronk - Monmouth - MWC
21. NCF - Rowan - NJAC
22. FCGG - Stockton - NJAC
23. Nescac1 - Saint John's - MIAC
24. Ryan - DePauw - NCAC

Round 5
25. Ryan - Maryville - SAA
26. Nescac1 - Coe - ARC
27. FCGG - Puget Sound - NWC
28. NCF - Wittenbeg - NCAC
29. Ronk - La Roche - AMCC
30. Greek - St. Norbert College - NACC

Round 6
31. Greek - Olivet - MIAA
32. Ronk - Marymount - AEC
33. NCF - Pitt-Greensburg - AMCC
34. FCGG - SUNY Oneonta - SUNYAC
35. Nescac1 - Ohio Northern - OAC
36. Ryan - Gwynedd Mercy - AEC

Round 7
37. Ryan - Willamette - NWC
38. Nescac1 - Keene State - LEC
39. FCGG - DeSales - MACF
40. NCF - Ursinus - CC
41. Ronk - Lancaster Bible - UEC
42. Greek - Webster - SLIAC

Round 8 of 10
43. Greek - Westfield St - MASCAC
44. Ronk - Lyon - SLIAC
45. NCF - Baruch - CUNYAC
46. FCGG - Salve Regina - NEWMAC
47. Nescac1 - Suffolk - CCC
48. Ryan - Wheaton (MA) - NEWMAC

Round 9 of 10
49. Ryan - Minnesota-Morris - UMAC
50. Nescac1 - Washington & Lee - ODAC
51. FCGG - Sage - E8
52. NCF
53. Ronk
54. Greek