Japan need a point against Sweden on Thursday to secure an automatic place in the last 32
With the final round of group fixtures now under way the path to the World Cup final on 19 July is starting to take shape.
But with 32 of the 48 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, new tie-breaker rules,. a table of third-placed teams to keep track of, staying across the various permutations is far from simple.
As it stands, England, sitting top of Group L,. Scotland, who finished third in Group C, would be on the same path to meet in the last 16 in Mexico City (6 July, 01:00 BST) - but they would have to win last-32 ties first.
But Scotland's 3-0 defeat by Brazil has left their hopes of going through as one of the best third-placed countries hanging by a thread.
There is lots still to be decided. so find out the results required to get teams through to the knockout rounds.
BBC Sport has also developed a projection tool. updates in-game to illustrate the schedule all the way to the final.
With dates. times listed alongside the fixtures, planning early morning alarms and potential all-nighters across three host countries and four different time zones has never been easier.
Click here to view the World Cup knockout stages as it stands.
Sixteen of the record 48 teams involved in the World Cup will be eliminated at the end of the group stage. leaving 32 nations in the mix for the trophy.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance to the last 32.
The remaining spots in the knockout stages are taken by the eight third-placed teams with the best records.
If two or more countries are level on points, head-to-head results are used as the first tie-breaker to determine positions.
If the teams remain tied, they are ranked on goal difference, goals scored, Fifa's Team Conduct Score - a disciplinary metric for red. yellow cards, and finally whoever had the higher Fifa ranking in June's published update.
These criteria are applied in the 12 groups of four and to determine the rankings of the 12 third-placed sides.
Co-hostsMexicobecame the first nation to qualify for the knockout stage. are assured of top place in Group A irrespective of the result in their final match.
El Tri will host a third-placed team from Group C. E, F, H or I in the last 32 on 30 June.
South Koreaonly need a draw against South Africa on Thursday (02:00 BST) to secure second place and face Canada.
If South Korea lose to South Africa they will be eliminated if Czech Republic beat Mexico. If the Czechs do not win, South Korea will be third. must wait to see if three points sends them through.
Czech RepublicandSouth Africaboth have one point and must win to qualify. Four points will almost certainly be good enough to go through in third.
For second, the Czechs can only take that place if South Korea lose.
If South Africa win, they will finish second unless the Czechs also get the victory.
If they both win,. as they drew 1-1 with each other, second place would be decided on goal difference (Czech Republic -1, South Africa -2), and then the better disciplinary record (Czech Republic -1, South Africa -12).
If that is level, Czech Republic take second on Fifa world ranking.
Switzerlandwon the group on seven points with a 2-1 victory overCanada.
The Swiss clinched a last-32 tie against a third-placed team in Vancouver on Thursday, 2 July.
Canadafinished as runners-up on goal difference with four points. face a date with the runners-up from Group A in Los Angeles on Monday.
Bosnia-HerzegovinabeatQatar3-1 to finish third on four points,. that will almost certainly be enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Five-time winnersBraziltopped the group on goal difference with seven points thanks to their 3-0 win over Scotland. They now play the runners-up of Group F in Houston on Monday.
Moroccowent through in second place on seven points after they beat Haiti 4-2. The North Africans' next opponents will be the winners of Group F in Monterrey on Monday.
Scotlandfinish in third on three points and goal difference of -3, which Opta says gives a 42% chance of qualifying.
Steve Clarke's men now face an anxious wait to see if they will get another game, or will head home. It might be a close run thing.
Haitiwere already eliminated without scoring a point.
TheUnited Stateshave qualified for the knockout stages as Group D winners. will face a third-placed team from Groups B, E, F, I or J in the next round.
AustraliaandParaguayare tied on three points and they meet on Friday (03:00 BST). The Socceroos have the goal difference advantage so only need to draw to progress in second.
Paraguay. however, must defeat Australia if they are to leapfrog their opponents into second place to play the runners-up from Group G.
A draw may well be enough to send Paraguay through in third on four points,. they will have a pretty good idea if that is the case when they play.
If either team loses it will be an anxious wait to discover if three points is enough.
Semi-finalists in 2002,Turkeycannot progress after losing to both Australia and Paraguay.
Germanyhave won the group and will face third place from either A, B, C, D, F.
Ivory Coastneed a draw against Curacao on Thursday (21:00 BST) to secure second spot. which would set up a last-32 tie against second place from Group L.
Ecuadormust beat Germany and hope Ivory Coast lose if they are to finish second. A victory to finish third on four points will probably be enough to go through, however.
Curacaowill finish second if they win and Ecuador draw or lose.
If both Ecuador (-1). Curacao (-6) both win then Ivory Coast would finish bottom, and goal difference would almost certainly send the South American nation through in second and Curacao through as a best third place.
Netherlandsare guaranteed to finish in the top two ahead of their game against already-eliminated Tunisia on Friday (00:00 BST).
Japanstill need a point against Sweden to ensure automatic progression. though four points is probably enough in third if they lose.
If both Netherlands. Japan win the top spot would be decided on goal difference, which is locked at +4 while the Dutch have scored one more. If both lose, goal difference would also determine second and third places.
If goal difference is identical it goes to the best disciplinary record (Japan 0. Netherlands -3), then the Netherlands would take it on Fifa world ranking.
The group winners will play Morocco in Monterrey and runners-up will come up against Brazil in Houston, both on Monday.
Swedencan only end up in the automatic places if they win,. they can top the group if the Netherlands suffer a defeat.
A draw would put them in a strong position for one of the eight-best third places. while defeat would leave them sweating to find out if their three points is enough.
Tunisiacannot progress after defeats by Sweden and Japan.
Egyptlead the group and will go through if they avoid defeat against Iran on Saturday (04:00 BST).
They will still go through automatically if they lose and Belgium do not beat New Zealand. At worst, they could finish third on four points - likely enough to progress.
The group winners play a third-placed team.
Iranwill go through if they beat Egypt. If they draw, then a top-two finish is only possible if Belgium also draw.
The runners-up will take on second in Group D.
Belgiumwill progress in the top two if they beat New Zealand. They can also definitely go through in second with a draw if Egypt beat Iran.
If Belgium and Iran both win they will be tied for top spot, or for second if they draw.
As they drew with each other, placings would be determined on goal difference - which is level at zero.
If goal difference finishes up identical, positions will be determined first by the better disciplinary record (Belgium -7, Iran -2). then by Fifa world ranking, which Belgium hold.
Neither team will qualify if they lose.
New Zealandmust beat Belgium. hope Iran do not win against Egypt to finish in the top two, though they cannot win the group.
If New Zealand and Iran both win, New Zealand would be third on four points which will likely be enough.
Spainwill progress as one of the top two sides if they avoid defeat against Uruguay on Saturday (01:00 BST).
Even if they lose, they will still finish inside the top two unless Cape Verde beat Uruguay. If that happens, Spain will finish third on four points, which is likely to be good enough.
Spain will top the group with a draw, unless Cape Verde win and overturn a goal difference deficit of four.
The group winners go on to play the runners-up of Group J.
Uruguaywill be through if they beat Spain. If they draw, then a top-two finish is only possible if Cape Verde also draw.
Cape Verdewill make the top two if they beat Saudi Arabia. They can also definitely go through with a draw if Spain beat Uruguay.
If Uruguay. Cape Verde both win they will be tied for top spot, or if they draw for second spot. As they drew with each other, placings would be determined on goal difference - which is level at zero.
If goal difference is identical, positions will be decided first by the better disciplinary record (Cape Verde -3, Uruguay -2). then by Fifa world ranking, which Uruguay hold.
The second-placed team will face Argentina.
Neither team will qualify if they lose.
Saudi Arabiamust beat Cape Verde, and will also need Spain to avoid defeat against Uruguay, to finish second. Four points would likely be enough in third anyway.
FranceandNorwayhave already qualified and meet each other to battle for top spot on Friday (20:00 BST).
As France have the better goal difference, Norway must get a victory to finish first.
The group winners will play a third-placed team and the runners-up meet second in Group E.
Senegal(-3) andIraq(-6) have zero points. if there is a winner they must hope three points is enough for a best third-place spot.
As both have poor goal difference, as it stands, it looks a tough task to make it through.
Argentinahave topped the group and will face the runners-up from Group H.
AustriaandAlgeriaare tied on three points and they meet on Sunday (00.00 BST).
Austria have the goal difference advantage so need to draw to progress in second.
Algeria, however, must win if they to go through automatically.
A draw may be enough to send Algeria through in third on four points,. they will know if that is the case as this is the final group to complete.
The runners-up play the winners of Group H.
Jordancannot progress.
Colombiahave secured a top two spot. will win the group if they avoid defeat against Portugal on Sunday (00:30 BST).
The group winners will play a third-placed team.
Portugalmust win to finish first, while a draw will lock second place.
Even if Portugal lose. DR Congo win, Roberto Martinez's team are six goals better off in goal difference so would likely take second.
DR Congo's only chance of second is tobeat Uzbekistan and overhaul that goal difference. A win, however, will put them onto four points which will surely be enough in third.
Uzbekistanmust win but can only finish third,. with goal difference of -7 the chances of taking a place in the next round on three points are slim.
Englandtop the group ahead of Ghana on goal difference and face Panama in their final game on Saturday (20:00 BST).
Thomas Tuchel's men must equal or better Ghana's result against Croatia to remain at the summit. play a third-placed team.
If both games are draws, England win the group.
If both win, top spot would be decided on goal difference which sees England on +2. Ghana +1, but the Three Lions have scored three more goals.
Should goal difference finish identical, it will go to disciplinary record (England -1, Ghana -2). then England would secure it on Fifa world ranking.
Ghanawill secure a top-two finish if they win or draw against Croatia.
The Africans will top the group if they better England's result. or win by a big enough margin to overtake them on goal difference.
Ghana will finish third if they lose, but four points should be enough.
Croatiamust beat Ghana if they are to secure automatic qualification. A Croatia win and England dropping points would see them top the group.
A draw is very likely to secure safe passage in third,. if they lose a heavy defeat could be damaging to their chances.
Panama, who are yet to open their account, are already eliminated.
The eight third-placed teams with the best record will go through to the last 32.
The tiebreakers start with group points, and then goal difference, goals scored, disciplinary record and finally the Fifa world ranking.
The last 32 fixtures are determined by the precise combination of the groups which provide the eight qualifiers.
For instance, if groups B, F, G, H, I, J, K. L provide the third-placed teams, the United States (1D) would play Bosnia-Herzegovina (3B).
We started out with 495 possible outcomes, which will gradually reduce as the groups complete.
When teams are level on points, this is the order used to separate them:
Head-to-head points between the teams in question. If there are three teams involved, a mini-league is created removing the results against the fourth team
Head-to-head goal difference
Head-to-head goals scored
Group goal difference
Fair play (yellow card -1, red card for two cautions -3, straight red card -4, yellow then straight red -5)
Better position in progressively older Fifa world ranking
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