2023 FIFA U20 World Cup table, standings, groups, tiebreakers, and how 3rd place teams qualified to Round of 16

Simon Borg

2023 FIFA U20 World Cup table, standings, groups, tiebreakers, and how 3rd place teams qualified to Round of 16 image

The 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup is currently underway in Argentina and it started with 24 nations vying for the trophy with traditional power Italy the favourite to win it all.

France were eliminated in the group stage, host nation Argentina and England fell in the Round of 16, and Brazil were ousted in the quarterfinals by Israel.

The road to the title started with the group stage, which saw 16 teams advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds. The top two finishers from each group went through, as well as the four best third-place teams.

The bracket for the knockouts will see matches played in the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final. Extra time and penalty kicks, if necessary, will be used in case the game is tied after 90 minutes. 

The final group tables are listed further below and there is also a final table featuring the third-place teams. Only the four best third-place finishers at the end of the group stage qualified to the Round of 16. Here are the knockout pairings and results as they stand: 

U20 World Cup Round of 16

Date Match  
Tue, May 30 RD16 #1: USA 4-0 New Zealand Highlights
Tue, May 30 RD16 #2: Uzbekistan 0-1 Israel Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #3: Brazil 4-1 Tunisia Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #4: Colombia 5-1 Slovakia Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #5: England 1-2 Italy Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #6: Argentina 0-2 Nigeria Highlights
Thu, June 1 RD16 #7: Gambia vs. Uruguay Highlights
Thu, June 1 RD16 #8: Ecuador vs. S. Korea Highlights

U20 World Cup Quarterfinals

Date Match Time (ET / GMT)
Sat, June 3 QF1: Israel 3-2 Brazil (a.e.t.) Highlights
Sat, June 3 QF2: Colombia 1-3 Italy Highlights
Sun, June 4 QF3: S. Korea vs. Nigeria 1:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m.
Sun, June 4 QF4: USA vs. Uruguay 5 p.m. / 10 p.m.

U20 World Cup Semifinals

Date Match Time (ET / GMT)
Thu, June 8 USA / Uruguay vs.
Israel
1:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m.
Thu, June 8 Italy vs.
S. Korea / Nigeria
5 p.m. / 10 p.m.

MORE: Teams in 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup

U20 World Cup 2023 table, standings

If teams were tied on points during the group stage, the following official tiebreakers were used in this specific order (as per page 20 of the rules): 

  1. Superior goal difference in all group matches;
  2. Most goals scored in all group matches;
  3. Points obtained in group matches between the specific teams;
  4. Superior goal difference in matches between the teams;
  5. Most goals scored in matches between the teams;
  6. Disciplinary points based on yellow/red cards received;
  7. Drawing of lots (random draw).

(PTS=points, W=Wins, L=Losses, D=Draws, GF=Goals For [Scored], GA=Goals Against [Allowed], GD=Goal Difference)

Group A table

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. Argentina-Q 9 3 3 0 0 10 1 +9
2. Uzbekistan-Q 4 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1
3. New Zealand-Q 4 3 1 1 1 3 7 -4
4. Guatemala-E 0 3 0 3 0 0 6 -6
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated

Group A fixtures

Date Match  
Sat, May 20 Guatemala 0-1 New Zealand Highlights
Sat, May 20 Argentina 2-1 Uzbekistan Highlights
Tue, May 23 Uzbekistan 2-2 New Zealand Highlights
Tue, May 23 Argentina 3-0 Guatemala Highlights
Fri, May 26 New Zealand 0-5 Argentina Highlights
Fri, May 26 Uzbekistan 2-0 Guatemala Highlights

Group B table

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. USA-Q 9 3 3 0 0 6 0 +6
2. Ecuador-Q 6 3 2 1 0 11 2 +9
3. Slovakia-Q 3 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1
4. Fiji-E 0 3 0 3 0 0 16 -16
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated

Group B fixtures

Date Match  
Sat, May 20 USA 1-0 Ecuador Highlights
Sat, May 20 Fiji 0-4 Slovakia Highlights
Tue, May 23 USA 3-0 Fiji Highlights
Tue, May 23 Ecuador 2-1 Slovakia Highlights
Fri, May 26 Ecuador 9-0 Fiji Highlights
Fri, May 26 Slovakia 0-2 USA Highlights

Group C table

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. Colombia-Q 7 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2
2. Israel-Q 4 3 1 1 1 4 4 0
3. Japan-E 3 3 1 2 0 3 4 -1
4. Senegal-E 2 3 0 1 2 2 3 -1
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated

Group C fixtures

Date Match  
Sun, May 21 Israel 1-2 Colombia Highlights
Sun, May 21 Senegal 0-1 Japan Highlights
Wed, May 24 Senegal 1-1 Israel Highlights
Wed, May 24 Japan 1-2 Colombia Highlights
Sat, May 27 Colombia 1-1 Senegal Highlights
Sat, May 27 Japan 1-2 Israel Highlights

Group D table

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. Brazil-Q 6 3 2 1 0 10 3 +7
2. Italy-Q 6 3 2 1 0 6 4 +2
3. Nigeria-Q 6 3 2 1 0 4 3 +1
4. Dom. Rep.-E 0 3 0 3 0 1 11 -10
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated

Group D fixtures

Date Match  
Sun, May 21 Nigeria 2-1 Dominican Rep. Highlights
Sun, May 21 Italy 3-2 Brazil Highlights
Wed, May 24 Italy 0-2 Nigeria Highlights
Wed, May 24 Brazil 6-0 Dominican Rep. Highlights
Sat, May 27 Brazil 2-0 Nigeria Highlights
Sat, May 27 Dominican Rep. 0-3 Italy Highlights

Group E table

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. England-Q 7 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2
2. Uruguay-Q 6 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4
3. Tunisia-Q 3 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1
4. Iraq-E 1 3 0 2 1 0 7 -7
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated

Group E fixtures

Date Match  
Mon, May 22 England 1-0 Tunisia Highlights
Mon, May 22 Uruguay 4-0 Iraq  Highlights 
Thu, May 25 Uruguay 2-3 England Highlights
Thu, May 25 Iraq 0-3 Tunisia Highlights
Sun, May 28 Iraq 0-0 England Highlights
Sun, May 28 Tunisia 0-1 Uruguay Highlights

Group F table

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. Gambia-Q 7 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2
2. South Korea-Q 5 3 1 0 2 4 3 +1
3. France-E 3 3 1 2 0 5 5 0
4. Honduras-E 1 3 0 2 1 4 7 -3
  • Q = Qualified to Round of 16
  • E = Eliminated

Group F fixtures

Date Match  
Mon, May 22 France 1-2 South Korea Highlights
Mon, May 22 Gambia 2-1 Honduras Highlights
Thu, May 25 France 1-2 Gambia Highlights
Thu, May 25 South Korea 2-2 Honduras Highlights
Sun, May 28 Honduras 1-3 France Highlights
Sun, May 28 South Korea 0-0 Gambia Highlights

MORE: Why FIFA moved U20 World Cup from Indonesia to Argentina


Third-Place Teams (top 4 teams advance)

Team Group PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. Nigeria-Q D 6 3 2 1 0 4 3 +1
2. New Zealand-Q A 4 3 1 1 1 3 7 -4
3. Slovakia-Q B 3 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1
4. Tunisia-Q E 3 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1
5. France-E F 3 3 1 2 0 5 5 0
6. Japan-E C 3 3 1 2 0 3 4 -1

Q = advances to Round of 16 / E = eliminated

FIFA predetermined the Round of 16 matchups based on the groups from which the third-place teams emerged (the first tiebreaker is goal difference).

With the best third-place teams hailing from Group A, B, D, and E, only one of the 15 scenarios outlined by FIFA applied for the Round of 16 (in bold below).

Round of 16 Pairings

3rd-Place Teams vs. A1 vs. B1 vs. C1 vs. D1
A, B, C, D C3 D3 A3 B3
A, B, C, E C3 A3 B3 E3
A, B, C, F C3 A3 B3 F3
A, B, D, E D3 A3 B3 E3
A, B, D, F D3 A3 B3 F3
A, B, E, F E3 A3 B3 F3
A, C, D, E C3 D3 A3 E3
A, C, D, F C3 D3 A3 F3
A, C, E, F C3 A3 F3 E3
A, D, E, F D3 A3 F3 E3
B, C, D, E C3 D3 B3 E3
B, C, D, F C3 D3 B3 F3
B, C, E, F E3 C3 B3 F3
B, D, E, F E3 D3 B3 F3
C, D, E, F C3 D3 F3 E3

Knockout Stages

The single-elimination knockout rounds consist of the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, final, and third-place match.

Any knockout matches tied after 90 minutes will head to 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty shootout, if necessary, to determine a winner on the day.

U20 World Cup Round of 16

Date Match  
Tue, May 30 RD16 #1: USA 4-0 New Zealand Highlights
Tue, May 30 RD16 #2: Uzbekistan 0-1 Israel Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #3: Brazil 4-1 Tunisia Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #4: Colombia 5-1 Slovakia Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #5: England 1-2 Italy Highlights
Wed, May 31 RD16 #6: Argentina 0-2 Nigeria Highlights
Thu, June 1 RD16 #7: Gambia 0-1 Uruguay Highlights
Thu, June 1 RD16 #8: Ecuador 2-3 S. Korea Highlights

U20 World Cup Quarterfinals

Date Match Time (ET / GMT)
Sat, June 3 QF1: Israel 3-2 Brazil (a.e.t.) Highlights
Sat, June 3 QF2: Colombia 1-3 Italy Highlights
Sun, June 4 QF3: S. Korea vs. Nigeria 1:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m.
Sun, June 4 QF4: USA vs. Uruguay 5 p.m. / 10 p.m.

U20 World Cup Semifinals

Date Match Time (ET / GMT)
Thu, June 8 QF4 vs. Israel 1:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m.
Thu, June 8 Italy vs. QF3 5 p.m. / 10 p.m.

U20 World Cup 3rd Place

Date Match Time (ET / GMT)
Sun, June 11 Semifinal losers 1:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m.

U20 World Cup Final

Date Match Time (ET / GMT)
Sun, June 11 Semifinal winners 5 p.m. / 10 p.m.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.