World Cup knockout stage intensifies with final group matches

By Evelyn Mensah — 26 June 2026 — 6 min read

Final group stage matches set to decide knockout spots

The race for the World Cup knockout stage intensifies today as the final Group G, H, and I matches are played. Qualification, first place, and several Round of 32 spots are still available. Teams like Egypt, Iran, Belgium, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia are all vying to extend their tournament runs.

The schedule for today includes several key matchups:

• Norway vs France at Boston Stadium in the United States at 3pm EDT (19:00 GMT)
• Senegal vs Iraq at Toronto Stadium, in Canada at 3pm EDT (19:00 GMT)
• Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium, in the US at 7pm CDT (00:00 GMT on Saturday)
• Uruguay vs Spain at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico at 6pm CST (00:00 GMT on Saturday)
• Egypt vs Iran at Seattle Stadium in the US at 8pm PDT (03:00 GMT on Saturday)
• New Zealand vs Belgium at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada at 8pm PDT (03:00 GMT on Saturday)

These matches will determine the remaining teams advancing to the next stage of the competition.

Key matchups and predictions

The match between Norway and France marks their first encounter since a France 4-0 friendly victory in 2014. This will be the 16th meeting between the two nations. Norway has only won two of their previous competitive meetings against France, with their last victory occurring in a European Championship qualifier in 1987. They are also seeking their first World Cup win against European opposition, having drawn two and lost three of their previous five such matches. France has won their last five World Cup matches against European teams. An Opta supercomputer predicts France has a 59.4 percent chance of victory, while Norway has a 20 percent chance. A draw is rated at 20.6 percent, which would be enough for France to secure the top spot in Group I.

Senegal and Iraq will meet for the first time in the World Cup. Senegal remains unbeaten against AFC opposition in the tournament, with a draw against Japan in 2018 and a win against Qatar in 2022. Iraq has never faced an African team at a World Cup. Opta’s supercomputer makes Senegal the clear favorites, giving them a 77.2 percent chance of victory compared to 8.6 percent for Iraq, with a draw rated at 14.2 percent. Senegal can no longer finish first in Group I but still has a 72.2 percent chance of reaching the last 32, while Iraq‘s chances of progressing are slim at 1.1 percent.

Another first-time World Cup meeting will be between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has lost only one of their five previous World Cup matches against African opposition, winning two and drawing two. Opta’s supercomputer gives Cape Verde a slight advantage, with a 40.8 percent chance of victory compared to 33.9 percent for Saudi Arabia. The draw is rated at 25.3 percent. Cape Verde has a 66.7 percent chance of advancing to the last 32, while Saudi Arabia‘s chances are 33.3 percent.

Former tournament winners Uruguay and Spain will clash for the third time at the World Cup, but for the first time in over three decades. Their previous two World Cup meetings both ended in draws: a 2-2 result in the final round of the 1950 tournament and a goalless group-stage deadlock at Italia ’90. Opta’s supercomputer favors Spain, with a 62.4 percent chance of winning in 25,000 pre-match simulations, while Uruguay won in 15.7 percent. A draw occurred in 21.9 percent of the simulations.

Egypt and Iran will also meet for the first time at the World Cup. Their only prior encounter was at the 2000 LG Cup in Tehran, which ended 1-1 before Egypt won on penalties 8-7. Iran is unbeaten against African opposition at the World Cup, having defeated Morocco in 2018 and drawn with Angola in 2006 and Nigeria in 2014. Opta’s supercomputer gives Egypt a slight edge with a 42.9 percent chance of victory, while a draw is rated at 32.2 percent, and Iran has a 24.9 percent chance of winning.

The first-ever meeting between New Zealand and Belgium will also take place. New Zealand is unbeaten in their last two World Cup matches against European opposition, drawing with Slovakia and Italy at the 2010 tournament. Belgium could become the first European team since their own team in 1998 to draw all three group-stage matches at a World Cup. Opta’s supercomputer makes Belgium overwhelming favorites, giving them an 80.3 percent chance of victory. A draw is rated at 11.8 percent, and New Zealand prevails in only 7.9 percent of simulations.

Current standings and knockout race

As of today, six groups have completed play, with Groups G-L still determining the remaining Round of 32 places. Mexico is the only team with a perfect group stage record. Teams that have already secured knockout places include Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Australia, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, France, and Norway.

Group G sees Egypt leading, with Iran and Belgium also in contention, and New Zealand trailing. In Group H, Spain is at the top, while Uruguay and Cape Verde are closely behind. In Group I, both France and Norway have already qualified, but the fight for first place is ongoing. Groups J, K, and L will conclude on Saturday. With the final group-stage matches yet to be played, 13 spots in the Round of 32 are still available.

Beyond the on-field action, there have been notable moments, including Mexico‘s perfect group stage, Dutch fans transforming Kansas City into a sea of orange, and African teams pursuing a historic knockout showing. Heartwarming fan moments continue to capture the spirit of the tournament, such as Colombian fans’ touching gesture towards a DR Congo supporter. Turkiye also claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States with a 98th-minute winner in a Group D finale, though neither side had anything riding on the result.

Six African teams are eyeing World Cup knockout places. Morocco and South Africa have already advanced, and the Ivory Coast has also secured their place in the Round of 32. Egypt, Algeria, DR Congo, Ghana, and Cape Verde head into their final group matches with qualification still within their grasp.

One of the more unusual moments off the pitch involved Gianni Infantino appearing at two World Cup matches simultaneously, leaving fans puzzled. The final group stage matches will determine the remaining qualifiers for the Round of 32.

Source: aljazeera.com