World Cup 2026 Simulator

The World Cup 2026 Simulator lets fans input hypothetical group-stage results to generate projected standings, third-place qualifiers, and knockout-round matchups for the expanded 48-team format.

How the simulator handles 12 groups

With 12 groups of four teams, the tool automatically applies FIFA tiebreakers—head-to-head, goal difference, goals scored—when you input scores. It highlights which third-place teams advance based on their points totals across all groups, a critical feature for 2026’s new format. Testing scenarios like a 0-0 draw between Group A’s second and third teams shows how narrow margins decide fates.

Seeing beyond the group stage

Once groups are simulated, the tool maps out the Round of 32 pairings, including which third-place teams face group winners. Want to see Brazil’s path if they finish second in Group L? The bracket updates dynamically. It also reveals potential knockout clashes, like a USMNT vs Mexico meeting in the quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium.

Why manual calculations fail now

The old 32-team World Cup let fans pencil in group outcomes easily. With 48 teams, tracking eight third-place qualifiers across 12 groups becomes chaotic—especially when comparing teams who never played each other. This tool instantly crunches the numbers, exposing quirks like a team advancing with just 2 points while another with 3 crashes out.

Explore

PredictorFull prediction hub BracketKnockout view

Group A

MEX vs

RSA

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KOR vs

CZE

–

CZE vs

RSA

–

MEX vs

KOR

–

CZE vs

MEX

–

RSA vs

KOR

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Czech Republic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	South Africa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group B

CAN vs

BIH

–

QAT vs

SUI

–

SUI vs

BIH

–

CAN vs

QAT

–

SUI vs

CAN

–

BIH vs

QAT

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Canada	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Qatar	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Switzerland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group C

BRA vs

MAR

–

HAI vs

SCO

–

SCO vs

MAR

–

BRA vs

HAI

–

SCO vs

BRA

–

MAR vs

HAI

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Haiti	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Morocco	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Scotland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group D

USA vs

PAR

–

AUS vs

TUR

–

USA vs

AUS

–

TUR vs

PAR

–

TUR vs

USA

–

PAR vs

AUS

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Paraguay	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Turkey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	United States	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group E

GER vs

CUW

–

CIV vs

ECU

–

GER vs

CIV

–

CUW vs

ECU

–

CUW vs

CIV

–

ECU vs

GER

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Ivory Coast	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Curaçao	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Ecuador	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Germany	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group F

NED vs

JPN

–

SWE vs

TUN

–

NED vs

SWE

–

JPN vs

TUN

–

JPN vs

SWE

–

TUN vs

NED

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Japan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Netherlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Sweden	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Tunisia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group G

BEL vs

EGY

–

IRN vs

NZL

–

BEL vs

IRN

–

NZL vs

EGY

–

EGY vs

IRN

–

NZL vs

BEL

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Belgium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Egypt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Iran	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group H

ESP vs

CPV

–

KSA vs

URU

–

ESP vs

KSA

–

URU vs

CPV

–

CPV vs

KSA

–

URU vs

ESP

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Cape Verde	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Saudi Arabia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Uruguay	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group I

FRA vs

SEN

–

IRQ vs

NOR

–

FRA vs

IRQ

–

NOR vs

SEN

–

NOR vs

FRA

–

SEN vs

IRQ

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Iraq	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Norway	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Senegal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group J

ARG vs

ALG

–

AUT vs

JOR

–

ARG vs

AUT

–

JOR vs

ALG

–

ALG vs

AUT

–

JOR vs

ARG

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Algeria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Argentina	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Austria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Jordan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group K

POR vs

COD

–

UZB vs

COL

–

POR vs

UZB

–

COL vs

COD

–

COL vs

POR

–

COD vs

UZB

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	DR Congo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Colombia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Portugal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Uzbekistan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Group L

ENG vs

CRO

–

GHA vs

PAN

–

ENG vs

GHA

–

PAN vs

CRO

–

PAN vs

ENG

–

CRO vs

GHA

–

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	England	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Ghana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Projected best third-placed teams

Top 8 of 12 third-place teams

https://flagsapi.com/AT/flat/64.png Austria
https://flagsapi.com/EC/flat/64.png Ecuador
https://flagsapi.com/GH/flat/64.png Ghana
https://flagsapi.com/IR/flat/64.png Iran
https://flagsapi.com/SA/flat/64.png Saudi Arabia
https://flagsapi.com/MA/flat/64.png Morocco
https://flagsapi.com/MX/flat/64.png Mexico
https://flagsapi.com/NO/flat/64.png Norway

Frequently asked questions

Does the simulator include tiebreakers?+

Yes—it follows FIFA’s official rules: head-to-head results first, then goal difference, goals scored, and fair play points if still tied.

Can I simulate specific matchups like USA vs England?+

Absolutely. Input scores for any group-stage fixture, including host nations’ games, to see how results alter the knockout bracket.

How does it handle third-place qualifiers?+

After simulating all groups, it ranks the top eight third-place teams by points, then goal difference, goals scored, and fair play.

Will it update with real results during the tournament?+

No—this is for hypothetical scenarios only. For live standings, use our /world-cup-2026-standings page during the actual event.