“If you’re a fan of Scotland, South Korea or any other team that finishes in third place in its World Cup group, the question is now: Are we in? For some, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden and Ecuador (thanks to a stunning win against Germany at MetLife Stadium), the answer is yes. But others are waiting in limbo, unsure whether they have done enough to advance to the knockout rounds. Unlike in 32-team tournaments from 1998-2022, where only each group’s top two teams advanced, this year, eight of the 12 third-place teams will move on to the round of 32. Those standings are determined by points, then goal differential — and, perhaps most critically, they are not finalized until all groups have finished play. …”
NYT/ATH