World Cup state of play: Who will qualify? | International | News

We’re 48 games into the World Cup and it’s starting to heat up as we head into the final group stage matches of the expanded competition.

A total of 13 of our Gunners have featured so far, with a host of them creating and scoring goals in the finals in Mexico, Canada and the USA.

With the group stages coming to a conclusion this week, we’ve looked ahead to which of our Gunners have already progressed and which stars still have work to do to reach the round of 32.

WHO HAS ALREADY QUALIFIED?

A quick reminder on how it all works. The 12 group winners and runners-up will automatically reach the round of 32. They will be joined by the eight best third-placed sides, ranked by the number of points amassed in the group stages.

With a game remaining, one of our Gunners has already cemented top spot. Kai Havertz and Germany got off to a lightning-quick start to the 2026 finals, with our attacker scoring twice in a 7-1 thumping of debutants Curacao.

Kai then started Germany’s 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast in Toronto, a result which means his side cannot be overtaken at the top of Group E thanks to a better head-to-head record than the Ivorians.

It means Germany will face a third-place side from either Groups A, B, C, D or F. Current projections have the Germans facing Paraguay on Monday, June 29, at 9.30pm UK time.

Meanwhile, over in Group I, both Martin Odegaard and William Saliba have secured qualification to the round of 32 with Norway and France, but top spot is still up for grabs.

Martin has provided two assists in two games for the Norwegians in a 4-1 victory over Iraq and a 3-2 triumph over Senegal.

Wilo has started both matches for Les Bleus, keeping a clean sheet in the 3-0 win over Iraq and playing the full 90 against Senegal in the 3-1 win.

Martin and Wilo will now go head-to-head for top spot on Friday, June 26, at 8pm UK time. France currently sit top on goal difference, with a draw enough for the two-time winners to finish first.

STRONG POSITION

Despite playing out a 0-0 draw with Ghana, our quartet of England stars are in strong contention to reach the round of 32.

Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka all had a hand in England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. God bless you played his first minutes of the World Cup in the stalemate with the Ghanians. England sit top of Group L, knowing a win over Panama will all but secure top spot and a spot in the next round, where they are projected to face DR Congo.

Spain are another nation that look set to top their group and progress to the round of 32, but still need a point to do so.

Mikel Merino has come on as a sub in both of Spain’s matches, a 0-0 draw with Cabo Verde and a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. It leaves Spain top of Group H ahead of facing Uruguay in the final group match. Martin Zubimendi and David Raya are yet to feature for La Roya.

Topping the group will hand Spain a match against the runner-up in Group J, which is currently Austria. The Austrians face Algeria in their last group match to confirm who will finish second.

Despite drawing their opening match with Morocco, Brazil are still in a strong position to advance after a comfortable 3-0 win over Haiti.

Gabriel has started both matches for Selecao, with Gabriel Martinelli coming on against the Haitians, hitting the bar in the victory.

A win over Scotland in Miami would put Brazil through. If Morocco beat Haiti, both sides will be on seven points, with the top spot determined by goal difference following the 1-1 draw between the pair in the opening match.

Topping the group would have Brazil facing Japan on current projections. The runner-up in the group will play the runner-up in Group K, which is currently Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

WORK TO DO

Viktor Gyokeres got off to a flying start with Sweden, netting in their 5-1 opening game thrashing of Tunisia.

But the Swedes were brought back down to earth in devastating fashion, losing 5-1 to the Netherlands to leave them in third position in Group F.

That’s because Japan, along with the Dutch, are on 4 points, with Sweden trailing by a point heading into their clash against the Asian outfit. A win would move them above the Japanese, and a potential meeting with our Gabriels and Brazil in the round of 32.

There’s also work to be done for Leandro Trossard’s Belgium in Group G. Leo has played both of Belgium’s matches so far, a 1-1 draw against Egypt and a 0-0 stalemate with Iran.

Belgium are sitting third in the group. A victory over New Zealand in their last group match would secure progression to the knockouts.

There are plenty of options for Belgium in the next round, depending on where they finish. If they come third, they will play the winner of Group B, which is currently Canada. Finishing second would mean a date with the runner-up from Group D, which is currently Australia. Topping the group would mean a third-place team from Groups A, E, H, I or J.

Lastly, Piero Hincapie‘s Ecuador need a big result on the final day against Kai Havertz’s Germany in order to progress.

After late heartbreak against the Ivory Coast, Piero’s nation then failed to break down Curacao to leave them third in the group on one point.

That would not be enough to get through to the round of 32, so a victory over the Germans is likely required in order to progress. That match will take place on Thursday, June 25, at 9pm.

WHO COULD GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN THE KNOCKOUTS?

On current projections, we could see a head-to-head between two Gunners in the round of 32.

Whoever tops Group E between France and Norway, they will face the third-place side from Group F, which is Sweden and Viktor Gyokeres.

Should that remain the same, the match will take place on Tuesday, June 30, at 10pm UK time.

The side which finishes second in Group I, France or Norway, is currently projected to face the runner-up in Group E.  This could be Piero Hincapie’s Ecuador, should they beat Germany in the final group game and Ivory Coast lose to Curacao.

We will be keeping you up to date as to when our Gunners could face each other in the latter stages of the World Cup!