The 2026 World Cup group stage is complete, all 12 groups have been decided, and Spain went on to win the tournament. The final tables with points per team are below. This page also explains how World Cup group betting works, the group winner, to-qualify and group-outright markets, so it stays a useful guide for the next World Cup in 2030.
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How the Group Stage Worked
The expanded 48-team format placed teams in 12 groups of four. The top two from each group advanced automatically, joined by the eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups, forming a 32-team Round of 32. Third-place teams were ranked by points, then goal difference, goals scored, disciplinary record and finally FIFA ranking, so with only eight of twelve advancing, every goal in the group stage mattered.
The eight third-place teams that advanced were DR Congo, Sweden, Ecuador, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Algeria, Paraguay and Senegal. Scotland, Uruguay, South Korea and Iran finished third but missed the cut.
Final 2026 World Cup Group Tables
Here are the final standings for all 12 groups, with points per team and how each finished.
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Mexico |
9 |
Winners, advanced |
|
South Africa |
4 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
South Korea |
3 |
Third, eliminated |
|
Czechia |
1 |
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Switzerland |
7 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Canada |
4 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Qatar |
1 |
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Brazil |
7 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Morocco |
7 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Scotland |
3 |
Third, eliminated |
|
Haiti |
0
|
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
USA |
6 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Australia |
4 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Paraguay |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Turkiye |
3 |
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Germany |
6 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Ivory Coast |
6 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Ecuador |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Curacao |
1 |
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Netherlands |
7 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Japan |
5 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Sweden |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Tunisia |
0
|
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Belgium |
5 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Egypt |
5 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Iran |
3 |
Third, eliminated |
|
New Zealand |
1 |
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Spain |
7 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Cape Verde |
3 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Uruguay |
2 |
Third, eliminated |
|
Saudi Arabia |
1 |
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
France |
9 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Norway |
6 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Senegal |
0
|
Third, advanced |
|
Iraq |
0
|
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Argentina |
9 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Austria |
4 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Algeria |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Jordan |
0
|
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
Colombia |
6 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Portugal |
4 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
DR Congo |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Uzbekistan |
0
|
Fourth, eliminated |
| Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|
|
England |
7 |
Winners, advanced |
|
Croatia |
6 |
Runners-up, advanced |
|
Ghana |
4 |
Third, advanced |
|
Panama |
0
|
Fourth, eliminated |
How the Groups Played Out
The first 48-team group stage delivered drama. France and Argentina were the only sides to take a perfect nine points, while several favourites were tested early. Spain topped Group H on their way to the title, Brazil and Morocco both advanced from a tight Group C that saw Scotland edged out on goal difference, and Uruguay went out at the group stage. Senegal sneaked through despite finishing level on points at the bottom of Group I, a quirk of the new format where goal difference and conduct records decided the final places.
How World Cup Group Betting Works
Group betting covers the outcomes of each group before the knockout rounds begin, and the 48-team format created more of these markets than any previous tournament. Here are the main ones for the next World Cup.
Group Winner
Back the team you expect to finish top of a group. Groups with a clear favourite drawn against weaker opposition offer steadier, shorter-priced bets, while groups with two evenly matched sides create more value and uncertainty.
To Qualify or Advance
Back a team to reach the knockout rounds, whether by finishing in the top two or as one of the eight best third-place teams. Because the third-place route exists, there is value in backing solid sides to progress without necessarily winning their group.
Group Exact Finish
Predict a team’s exact position, first through fourth. Higher risk than a simple to-qualify bet, but correspondingly higher odds, and useful for combining into accumulators across several groups.
Group Stage Betting Strategy
The group stage rewards knowing the format. With eight of twelve third-place teams advancing, a strong side in a tough group can still be good value to qualify even at short odds to win it. Goal difference matters more than ever as a tiebreaker, so a team’s scoring profile is worth weighing. Combining group outcomes into an accumulator, several teams to qualify or win their groups, is a popular way to build a bigger price from realistic outcomes. For outright and futures markets, see our World Cup futures guide, and for the full tournament picture our World Cup betting guide.
Looking Ahead to the 2030 World Cup
Group betting returns for the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Once the draw is made, the group winner, to-qualify and group-exact-finish markets will open again at the major bookmakers. The same strategy applies, weigh the draw, respect goal difference, and look for value in the to-qualify markets rather than only the group winner.
Responsible Gambling
A World Cup is a long betting window, which makes it easy for bets to add up quickly. UK punters should set a clear tournament budget before the group stage begins and stick to it. All UKGC-licensed bookmakers must provide deposit limit and session time tools under their licence conditions, and you can self-exclude using GamStop, the UK’s national self-exclusion scheme.
Online betting on the World Cup group stage is legal for residents of Great Britain aged 18 and over. All operators listed on this page hold a valid licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the independent gambling regulator of Great Britain established under the Gambling Act 2005. Licences can be verified at gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register.
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Group Betting FAQ
How many teams advance from each World Cup group?
The top two from each of the 12 groups advance automatically, a total of 24 teams, joined by the eight best third-place finishers across all groups, making 32 teams in the Round of 32. Third-place teams are ranked by points, then goal difference, goals scored and disciplinary record.
Who won each group at the 2026 World Cup?
The 12 group winners were Mexico, Switzerland, Brazil, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Argentina, Colombia and England. France and Argentina were the only teams to win their group with a perfect nine points.
What is a to-qualify bet?
A to-qualify bet backs a team to reach the knockout rounds, by finishing in the top two of its group or as one of the eight best third-place teams. It is often better value than the group winner market for a strong side in a competitive group.
When is the next World Cup?
The next World Cup is in 2030, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three centenary matches in South America. Group betting markets will open once the draw is confirmed.
Written by Stefan Peric. I write and edit sportsbook reviews and betting guides for Topend Sports, using a law background to turn the fine print into plain English, and I fact-check every guide before it goes live.
18+. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly. Credit cards cannot be used to fund online gambling accounts in the United Kingdom (UKGC, effective 14 April 2020). UK players pay no tax on gambling winnings (HMRC).