World Cup group permutations: Who can qualify for the Round of 16?

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The second round of games in the World Cup group stage is now under way. Find out what each nation has to do to qualify for the knockout stage ahead of the final round of matches.

Already qualified: Russia, Uruguay, France
Already eliminated: Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Peru

The first tiebreakers are goal difference and goals scored rather than head to head (see full breakdown at the foot of the page).

GROUP A

– Russia are through and will top the group if they avoid defeat vs. Uruguay
– Uruguay are through but must beat hosts Russia to top the group
– Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated

GROUP B

– Spain and Portugal have identical records so the team with the better (or least worse) result will finish above. If they still finish identical it is decided first on disciplinary records and then drawing of lots.
– Portugal need at least point to definitely qualify but are out if they lose
– Spain and Portugal have identical records so the team with the better result will finish top (as long as both do not lose)
– Iran must beat Portugal to qualify, and could finish top if Spain lose
– Morocco have been eliminated

GROUP C

– France have qualified and need a point against Denmark to top the group.
– Denmark need a point to qualify and will top the group with a win vs. France. They will also qualify with a defeat if Australia fail to beat Peru.
– Australia must beat Peru and hope Denmark lose, and top the Danes on goal difference.
– Peru have been eliminated.

Though some groups have yet to begin their second round of games, there are a few things to highlight. Where a team is not mentioned they cannot advance or be eliminated in round two.

France can book their place in the second round of games.
France have booked their place in the second round of games.

GROUP D

– Croatia have qualified
– Nigeria are out if they lose to Iceland

GROUP E

– Serbia qualify if they beat Switzerland 
– Costa Rica are out if they lose to Brazil

GROUP F

– Sweden are through if they win and South Korea draw or lose
– Mexico are through if they win and Germany draw or lose
– South Korea are out if they lose and Sweden draw or win
– Germany are out if they lose and Mexico draw or win

GROUP G

– Belgium are through if they win and Panama draw or lose
– England are through if they win and Tunisia draw or lose
– Panama are out if they lose and Belgium draw or win
– Tunisia are out if they lose and England draw or win

GROUP H

– Japan are through if they win and Poland-Colombia is a draw 
– Senegal are through if they win and Poland-Colombia is a draw
– Poland are eliminated if they lose and Japan-Senegal is a draw
– Colombia are eliminated if they lose and Japan-Senegal is a draw

TIEBREAKERS

If two or more teams are level on points, they are separated using this tiebreaker system

1) Goal difference
2) Goals scored
3) Head-to-head points
4) Head-to-head goal difference
5) Head-to-head goals scored
6) Fair play points
7) Drawing of lots

KNOCKOUT STAGES

Round of 16: June 30 – July 3

June 30

Match 49: Winner Group A vs. Runner-up Group B (Sochi; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)
Match 50: Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group D (Kazan; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)

July 1

Match 51: Winner Group B vs. Runner-up Group A (Moscow Luzhniki; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)
Match 52: Winner Group D vs. Runner-up Group C (Nizhny Novgorod; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

July 2

Match 53: Winner Group E vs. Runner-up Group F (Samara; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)
Match 54: Winner Group G vs. Runner-up Group H (Rostov-on-Don; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

July 3

Match 55: Winner Group F vs. Runner-up Group E (St Petersburg; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)
Match 56: Winner Group H vs. Runner-up Group G (Moscow Spartak; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

Quarterfinals: July 6-7

July 6

Match 57: Winner of Match 49 vs. Winner of Match 50 (Nizhny Novgorod; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)
Match 58: Winner of Match 53 vs. Winner of Match 54 (Kazan; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

July 7

Match 59: Winner of Match 55 vs. Winner of Match 56 (Samara; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)
Match 60: Winner of Match 51 vs. Winner of Match 52 (Sochi; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

Semifinals: July 10-11

July 10

Match 61: Winner of Match 57 vs. Winner of Match 58 (St Petersburg; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

July 11

Match 62: Winner of Match 59 vs. Winner of Match 60 (Moscow Luzhniki; 2 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT)

Third-place game: July 14

Loser of Match 61 vs. Loser of Match 62 (St Petersburg; 10 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT)

Final: July 15

Winner of Match 61 vs. Winner of Match 62 (Moscow Luzhniki; 11 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT)

Dale Johnson has been an editor and journalist at ESPN for 18 years. You can follow him on Twitter @dalejohnsonESPN.

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