The 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage has come to a close in Qatar and 16 teams moved on to the knockout stage.
Only the top two teams in each group earned a ticket to the knockout rounds, while the bottom two headed back home eliminated. And it was important to win the group: First place ensures a Round of 16 match against another group's runner-up, while finishing in second place results in a theoretically tougher assignment of facing a group winner in the knockouts.
If teams were tied on points in their group — three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss — then the following tiebreakers were used, as outlined in the official tournament rules (page 21):
- Superior goal difference in all group matches;
- Most goals scored in all group matches;
- Most points in group matches between the teams concerned;
- Superior goal difference in group matches between the teams concerned;
- Most goals scored in group matches between the teams concerned;
- Disciplinary points as per a FIFA formula based on yellow and red cards;
- Drawing of lots.
The following were the final standings and results below for the group stage. The Round of 16 kicked off on Saturday, December 3, and that was followed by the quarterfinals (Dec. 9-10), the semifinals (Dec. 13-14), and the final (Dec. 18), which was preceded the day before by the third-place match.
MORE: Best bets and odds for the World Cup group stage
World Cup 2022 standings
World Cup Group A table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Netherlands-Q | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 |
| 2. Senegal-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| 3. Ecuador-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| 4. Qatar-E | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
Group A schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Sun, Nov. 20 | Qatar 0, Ecuador 2 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 21 | Senegal 0, Netherlands 2 | Highlights |
| Fri, Nov. 25 | Qatar 1, Senegal 3 | Highlights |
| Fri, Nov. 25 | Netherlands 1, Ecuador 1 | Highlights |
| Tue, Nov. 29 | Netherlands 2, Qatar 0 | Highlights |
| Tue, Nov. 29 | Ecuador 1, Senegal 2 | Highlights |
World Cup Group B table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. England-Q | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 |
| 2. USA-Q | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| 3. Iran-E | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
| 4. Wales-E | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -5 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
Group B schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Mon, Nov. 21 | England 6, Iran 2 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 21 | USA 1, Wales 1 | Highlights |
| Fri, Nov. 25 | Wales 0, Iran 2 | Highlights |
| Fri, Nov. 25 | England 0, USA 0 | Highlights |
| Tue, Nov. 29 | Wales 0, England 3 | Highlights |
| Tue, Nov. 29 | Iran 0, USA 1 | Highlights |
World Cup Group C table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Argentina-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| 2. Poland-Q | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3. Mexico-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| 4. Saudi Arabia-E | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
NOTE: Poland advanced over Mexico based on goal difference (first tiebreaker) with a 0 differential compared to Mexico's -1.
Group C schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Tue, Nov. 22 | Argentina 1, S. Arabia 2 | Highlights |
| Tue, Nov. 22 | Mexico 0, Poland 0 | Highlights |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Poland 2, S. Arabia 0 | Highlights |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Argentina 2, Mexico 0 | Highlights |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | Poland 0, Argentina 2 | Highlights |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | S. Arabia 1, Mexico 2 | Highlights |
World Cup Group D table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. France-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 |
| 2. Australia-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 3. Tunisia-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4. Denmark-E | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
NOTE: France claimed first place ahead of Australia on goal difference (first tiebreaker) with a +3 compared to Australia's -1.
Group D schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Tue, Nov. 22 | Denmark 0, Tunisia 0 | Highlights |
| Tue, Nov. 22 | France 4, Australia 1 | Highlights |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Tunisia 0, Australia 1 | Highlights |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | France 2, Denmark 1 | Highlights |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | Tunisia 1, France 0 | Highlights |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | Australia 1, Denmark 0 | Highlights |
World Cup Group E table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Japan-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| 2. Spain-Q | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 |
| 3. Germany-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 |
| 4. Costa Rica-E | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | -8 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
NOTE: Spain advanced over Germany based on goal difference (first tiebreaker) with a +6 over Germany's +1.
Group E schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Germany 1, Japan 2 | Highlights |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Spain 7, Costa Rica 0 | Highlights |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Japan 0, Costa Rica 1 | Highlights |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Spain 1, Germany 1 | Highlights |
| Thu, Dec. 1 | Japan 2, Spain 1 | Highlights |
| Thu, Dec. 1 | Costa Rica 2, Germany 4 | Highlights |
World Cup Group F table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Morocco-Q | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| 2. Croatia-Q | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| 3. Belgium-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 4. Canada-E | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | -5 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
Group F schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Morocco 0, Croatia 0 | Highlights |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Belgium 1, Canada 0 | Highlights |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Belgium 0, Morocco 2 | Highlights |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Croatia 4, Canada 1 | Highlights |
| Thu, Dec. 1 | Croatia 0, Belgium 0 | Highlights |
| Thu, Dec. 1 | Canada 1, Morocco 2 | Highlights |
World Cup Group G table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Brazil-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
| 2. Switzerland-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| 3. Cameroon-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 4. Serbia-E | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | -3 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
NOTE: Brazil edged out Switzerland for first place based on the first tiebreaker (goal difference) with +2 for Brazil vs. +1 for Switzerland.
Group G schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Thu, Nov. 24 | Switzerland 1, Cameroon 0 | Highlights |
| Thu, Nov. 24 | Brazil 2, Serbia 0 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Cameroon 3, Serbia 3 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Brazil 1, Switzerland 0 | Highlights |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Cameroon 1, Brazil 0 | Highlights |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Serbia 2, Switzerland 3 | Highlights |
World Cup Group H table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Portugal-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 |
| 2. S. Korea-Q | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 3. Uruguay-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 4. Ghana-E | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | -2 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
NOTE: South Korea claim goals scored tiebreaker (second tiebreaker) over Uruguay (4 goals to 2).
Group H schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Thu, Nov. 24 | Uruguay 0, S. Korea 0 | Highlights |
| Thu, Nov. 24 | Portugal 3, Ghana 2 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | S. Korea 2, Ghana 3 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Portugal 2, Uruguay 0 | Highlights |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | S. Korea 2, Portugal 1 | Highlights |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Ghana 0, Uruguay 2 | Highlights |
