The Lightning Round: World Cup Edition

Wednesday starts the final set of group stage matches. Three groups will play their final matches from Wednesday through Saturday. For four teams, they are already group winners (Mexico, USA, Germany, Argentina), two more teams are assured of a spot in the Round of 32 (France and Norway), while five teams have been officially eliminated (Turkiye, Tunisia, Haiti, Jordan, Panama). Twenty-six more sports are up for grabs heading into the final set. Here’s a look at who needs what.

GROUP A:
Czechia vs. Mesico (8pm CT Wed., Fox/Telemundo)
South Africa vs. South Korea (8pm CT Wed., FS1/NBC Universo)

Mexico is already assured of topping Group A. They will face a third place team from one of Groups C, E, F, H, or I. Czechia need a win and hope South Korea lose to South Africa and keep the goal difference advantage as head-to-head is the first tiebreaker at this World Cup and Czechia had already lost to South Korea. A draw will be enough for South Korea to advance, while South Africa need a win and Czechia to fail to defeat Mexico to finish second. Otherwise, if Czechia win, it goes down to goal difference.

GROUP B:
Switzerland vs. Canada (2pm CT Wed., Fox/Telemundo)
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar (2pm CT Wed, FS1/NBC Universo)

Canada need just a draw to finish top of Group B and have their Round of 32 match in Vancouver. Switzerland need a win to finish first themselves. Second place in Group B will face second place in Group A in Los Angeles. Both Qatar and Bosnia need a win to have a shot of advancing realistically as one of the eight best third place teams. Qatar cannot finish above Canada, while Bosnia cannot finish above Switzerland. Both also have vastly inferior goal differences.

GROUP C:
Scotland vs. Brazil (5pm CT Wed., Fox/Telemundo)
Morocco vs. Haiti (5pm CT Wed., FS1/NBC Universo)

A Scotland win will see them in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. A draw will likely see them as one of the eight best third place teams. A draw for Brazil opens the door for Morocco to take the group with a win against an already eliminated Haiti.

GROUP D:
Turkiye vs. USA (9pm CT Thu., Fox/Telemundo)
Paraguay vs. Australia (9pm CT Thu., FS1/NBC Universo)

The USA has already claimed the top spot in the group while Turkiye is eliminated. Australia and Paraguay are playing for second which the winner will take. Australia takes it with a draw as well. Second place in Group D will face second place in Group G.

GROUP E:
Ecuador vs. Germany (3pm CT Thu., Fox/Telemundo)
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast (3pm CT Thu., FS1/NBC Universo)

Germany has locked in top spot of Group E. Ivory Coast will finish second if they get at least a draw. Curacao will continue their miracle run if they defeat Ivory Coast and if Ecuador fail to defeat Germany.

GROUP F:
Tunisia vs. Netherland (6pm CT Thu., Fox/Telemundo)
Japan vs. Sweden (6pm CT Thu., FS1/NBC Universo)

Right now, Netherlands is ahead of Japan based on goals scored. If both teams win their games, it will go down to goal difference to see who tops the group. If one gets a better result than the other, that team wins the group. Sweden needs to beat Japan to finish second. Tunisia is already eliminated.

GROUP G:
New Zealand vs. Belgium (10pm CT Fri., Fox/Telemundo)
Egypt vs. Iran (10pm CT Fri., FS1/NBC Universo)

All four teams are still in this one. Egypt will top the group with a win. A draw subjects them to tiebreakers if Belgium win for top spot. Right now, Iran is ahead of Belgium on goals scored. If both Iran and Belgium win, then that will go down to goal difference for top spot while Egypt would drop to third. New Zealand need to defeat Belgium to have any chance of advancing. They will finish second if they win and if Iran fail to defeat Egypt.

GROUP H:
Uruguay vs. Spain (7pm CT Fri., Fox/Telemundo)
Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (7pm CT Fri., FS1/NBC Universo)

Spain will advance with at least a draw against Uruguay, Cabo Verde’s run will continue if they get a better result in their match against Saudi Arabia than Uruguay vs. Spain. Match results would go down to tiebreakers. Saudi Arabia need to win and will finish second if Uruguay do not do the same vs. Spain.

GROUP I:
Norway vs. France (2pm CT Fri., Fox/Telemundo)
Senegal vs. Iraq (2pm CT Fri., FS1/NBC Universo)

Norway and France are battling for top of the group which the winner will be. A draw favors France based on goal difference. Both Senegal and Iraq need to win to have a more realistic shot of being one of the eight best third place teams.

GROUP J:
Jordan vs. Argentina (9pm CT Sat., Fox/Telemundo)
Algeria vs. Austria (9pm CT Sat., FS1/NBC Universo)

Argentina has clinched top spot in the group while Jordan is already eliminated. Algeria plays Austria win a winner-take-second match. Austria would finish second in a draw.

GROUP K:
Colombia vs. Portugal (9pm CT Sat., Fox/Telemundo)
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan (9pm CT Sat., FS1/NBC Universo)

Colombia’s victory over DR Congo assures their passage to the Round of 32. They will win the group with at least a draw against Portugal on Saturday. Both DR Congo and Uzbekistan are realistically battling for third place. The winner of their match will do that and hope it’s enough for passage, while a draw is likely to eliminate both teams.

GROUP L:
Panama vs. England (4pm CT Sat., Fox/Telemundo)
Croatia vs. Ghana (4pm CT Sat., FS1/NBC Universo)

Panama is already eliminated. England will top the group if they get a better result in their match than Ghana does against Croatia. Matching results will have it come down to goal difference for top spot. A win for Croatia will see them advance and will see them top the group if England fail to defeat Panama. A draw for Croatia will likely see them as one of the eight best third place teams.

Happy watching and please use discretion in viewing if at a workplace.