The eight teams who have already benefitted from FIFA’s crazy new World ...

The eight teams who have already benefitted from FIFA’s crazy new World Cup rule The 2026 World Cup is beginning to heat up and with some groups having played two group stage fixtures, a number of nations have already secured qualification for the round of 32. Co-hosts Mexico and the United States of America have both booked their place in the knockouts after winning their opening two matches, while Germany have also followed suit after beating Curacao and Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, three nations have already been eliminated, with Haiti, Tunisia and Turkey all going home after back-to-back losses. However, the group stage permutations have undoubtedly been affected by FIFA’s decision to change the tie-breaker rules for the 2026 tournament. Previously, goal difference was used to separate teams who ended the group stage tied on points, but FIFA controversially decided to change this for 2026. Now, any teams tied on points will be ordered by head-to-head record first. If the two teams played out a draw, then goal difference will be referred to. On face value, this may seem fair as it pits the two teams directly against one another. . As a result of this rule change, the order of group stage matches is now vitally important and several teams have already benefitted hugely from this alteration. Mexico Mexico would’ve already qualified for the round of 32 after two fixtures irrespective of whether goal difference or head-to-head record was used as a tie-breaker, but they are now guaranteed to finish top of Group A thanks to the rule change. Under the usual tie-breaker of goal difference, they could’ve been caught by South Korea if Hong Myung-bo’s side beat South Africa and they lose to Czech Republic. However, as Mexico ran out 1-0 winners against South Korea, they now can’t be caught. As a result, they have guaranteed top spot and will likely field a weakened team versus Czech Republic in order to rest players, and this could have a huge impact on the final Group A standings. Best scenes of the World Cup yet? 👀🤯 Fan zone goes CRAZY as Luis Romo scores Mexico winner against South Korea! pic.twitter.com/BdILdGP61G — ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 19, 2026 Switzerland Switzerland head into their final group stage game against co-hosts Canada level on four points apiece and one of those teams will therefore be Group B winners. While they will fancy their chances of securing top spot via victory, defeat is a possibility, but they will still more than likely finish second thanks to the head-to-head rule. With Bosnia and Herzegovina favourites against Qatar, after Julen Lopetegui’s side lost 6-0 to Canada, Switzerland could easily have dropped to third on goal difference if they lost their final group match. But, they beat Bosnia and are therefore guaranteed to remain ahead of them regardless of the results in the third group fixtures. USA Similarly to Mexico, USA are also guaranteed to finish top of Group D after beating Paraguay and Australia. Those two teams both beat Turkey and so sit on three points apiece, but, due to the head-to-head rule, neither can catch USA even if Mauricio Pochettino’s side lose their final match. Germany Germany are in the same boat as Mexico and USA after winning their first two matches, and they will finish top of Group E regardless of the final set of results. If goal difference was the determining factor, Ivory Coast could’ve still caught them, but they lost to Germany on Saturday and therefore Julian Nagelsmann’s side can fully rotate in their final match versus Ecuador. Deniz Undav gets his second of the game and secures the win for Germany 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/IRQRTbrTNH — ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 20, 2026 Scotland, Australia, Paraguay and Sweden Scotland, Australia, Paraguay and Sweden are all faced with the same exact scenario having picked up three points from their opening two matches. Thanks to the head-to-head tie-breaker, all four teams are now guaranteed to finish at least third after beating the team currently in fourth place in their respective groups. This may not be enough to qualify for the knockouts, but with eight of the 12 third-place teams going through, they could progress even if they lose their final match, irrespective of whether the team currently in fourth place in their group wins their third game.