​  World Cup 2026 standings, explained: Updated scenarios for Messi, Ronaldo and more on final day originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The World Cup has reached the final day of group stage action, but the fun is just getting started for some.By the end of Saturday night, 32 of the 48 teams in the expanded field will know not only whether they are moving onto the knockout stage, but also where, when and who they are playing in the Round of 32.Many teams already know their path forward, but Saturday’s games — which feature Argentina, England, Portugal and more — will finalize the bracket. Here’s a look at the standings and scenarios for the groups in action in Saturday’s World Cup games.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsGroup L scenariosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. England4210142+22. Ghana4210110+13.Croatia3211034-14. Panama – E0202002-2Q = Qualified to Knockout StageE = EliminatedEngland vs. PanamaEngland will qualify for the knockout stage with a win or draw against Panama. A win alone won’t guarantee England wins Group L, but Ghana would have to beat Croatia and gain at least one goal on England in the goal differential margin to win Group L.In the event of a draw, England can only win Group L if Ghana and Croatia also draw. An England draw means the winner of Ghana vs. Croatia, if there is one, would win the group.England cannot win Group L in the event of an upset loss, but four points would be enough for the squad to qualify either automatically as a second-place team or as a third-place team.Panama is eliminated and will finish fourth in Group L regardless of Saturday’s result.Croatia vs. GhanaGhana is presumably headed to the knockout stage regardless with four points but can qualify automatically with a win or draw against Croatia. A win and an England loss or draw would make Ghana the group winner. If England wins, Ghana can only win the group by winning and gaining at least one goal on England in the goal differential tiebreaker.Croatia can win the group with a win and an England draw or loss. A draw likely wouldn’t earn Croatia a top-two spot in the group, but an additional point would position the squad to advance as a third-place team. A loss to Ghana would leave Croatia’s fate up to other third-place teams and the goal differential tiebreaker.WORLD CUP GROUP STANDINGS:Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group FGroup G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group LGroup K scenariosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1. Colombia – Q6220041+32. Portugal4210161+53. DR Congo1201112-14. Uzbekistan0202018-7Q = Qualified to Knockout StageE = EliminatedColombia vs. PortugalFor Colombia, the path is clear: a win or draw against Portugal wins Group K. Colombia has already qualified for the knockout stage and can only fall to second in the group with a loss to Portugal.For Portugal, th      ​Read More