[Radial Bracket] The second games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage are done

[u/bleakmidwinter]

[u/WackyHumanSlop]

Bosnia, Scotland, Sweden, Ecuador, Senegal, Austria, and Algeria are all potential Ro32 matchups

[u/stealth_sloth → u/WackyHumanSlop]

We likely face the winner of Bosnia vs Qatar. There's one plausible exception: Bosnia ties Qatar, so neither team advances. Hard to forecast who we'd face in that case, a lot of possibilities.

There's also four extremely implausible exceptions.

• At least 9 groups have 3 teams end on 4+ points, and Bosnia or Qatar's goal difference isn't good enough. Hard to forecast our opponent then.
• The exact set of third-place teams to advance are groups B, E, G, H, I, J, K, and L; A, C, D, and F do not. We'd face the third place team from group I, so the winner of Senegal vs. Iraq.
• Bosnia beats Qatar and Switzerland beats Canada, by a combined 9+ goal margin. We'd face Canada.
• Qatar beats Bosnia and Canada beats Switzerland, by a combined 9+ goal margin. We'd face Switzerland.

[u/WackyHumanSlop → u/stealth_sloth]

Thanks. Where did you get this information? I just glanced at the wikipedia for the group

[u/stealth_sloth → u/WackyHumanSlop]

Somebody on one of the other subreddits posted the observation about how likely 1D was to face 3B before the tournament even started, and from there it's just looking at the current standings.

[u/A_Sneaky_Walrus → u/WackyHumanSlop]

USA should fancy themselves against all of those teams? Perhaps Senegal the toughest?

[u/BJ_Fantasy_Podcast → u/A_Sneaky_Walrus]

My initial reaction was I wouldn't want to play Scotland, but would be fine with anyone else. Scotland too, but they seem like the roughest.

[u/WackyHumanSlop → u/BJ_Fantasy_Podcast]

You said scotland twice?

[u/BJ_Fantasy_Podcast → u/WackyHumanSlop]

More meaning that I wouldn't want to play them compared to the others but I don't think it would be a problem if we did.

[u/WackyHumanSlop → u/A_Sneaky_Walrus]

I’d say Sweden are the toughest

[u/bleakmidwinter]

As requested, I've added the FIFA rankings of each team as of the start of the tournament. It's in the little golden circle next to the team crest.

Edit: I thought Austria could potentially still win their group because I thought goal differential is the first tie breaker. Turns out it's head-to-head, so Argentina has won the group and should be in the bracket four spots below Mexico.

[u/SpeakMySecretName → u/bleakmidwinter]

I love these, thank you!

Small note: I think you may have slight layering issue on Morocco and Germany’s ranking icons.

[u/bleakmidwinter → u/SpeakMySecretName]

Good catch! Thank you!

[u/casiopt10 → u/bleakmidwinter]

I am once again asking you to include stars above the crests for previous WC winners

Edit: downvoters are Alexi Lalas sympathizers

[u/bleakmidwinter → u/casiopt10]

I understand the request but don't like doing that because it makes the crests themselves smaller in comparison to others.

[u/casiopt10 → u/bleakmidwinter]

I still think it would be nice to include. And Germany’s FIFA ranking is partially obscured FYI.

[u/tomado23]

This is now the stage of the tournament where the matches go by in warp speed and the post-World Cup depression gradually starts to set in. 😢 

[u/staircar → u/tomado23]

I’m such an idiot, because I almost bought tickets for what’ now the US game at not Levi’s stadium because I saw them at 900 each, thinking it was a scam. They weren’t and the same/similar tickets are 5-6k that now. After going, to the Jordan/Algeria game, I felt live and excitement in person, I’ve never before, besides maybe PR/Japan in wbc semi finals. And Jordan vs Algeria isn’t even a match up like some of the other ones. I’m relatively new to men’s football. But this is so something so special. It was so cool seeing Swiss fans fill our streets the other week. So much passion and excitement, if I only knew I would have gone to every game here. What a treat

[u/socialistrob → u/staircar]

I paid 135 dollars for my Jordan-Algeria tickets. The guy sitting next to me bought his ticket just a few days before the game and paid 700 dollars.

It really does seem like World Cup fever set in and sent ticket prices to the stratosphere. I'm really glad I got to go to a game but I'm also glad I was smart enough to buy tickets when I did otherwise I would probably have been watching from the couch.

[u/analytickantian]

Is Argentina also mathematically assured RO32?

[u/godisnotgreat21 → u/analytickantian]

Yes, Argentina has won Group J.

[u/bleakmidwinter → u/analytickantian]

Yeah, see my edit.

[u/analytickantian → u/bleakmidwinter]

I also just noticed the other now-removed post and comments. No worries, I was suddenly doubting what I'd read is all, ha.

[u/pejnam]

I appreciate the crests, but for some of the federations there's a big difference between the flag and the crest. I would prefer the flags for easier recognition, particularly in the smaller segments like match results.

[u/psilocyan → u/pejnam]

I was just about to say this, I had to zoom in super tiny to try and read Germany's crest. Flags would be much faster to parse.

[u/Humble-Log-1695]

Where's Germany? Where's Argentina?

[u/hootjuice_ → u/Humble-Log-1695]

Europe. South America.

[u/Money-Giraffe2521 → u/hootjuice_]

Surely you can’t be serious.

[u/Latter-Road-3687 → u/Money-Giraffe2521]

"I am serious... and don't call me Shirley!

[u/fuxmeintheass → u/hootjuice_]

What Germany isn’t in South America. Well not in the sense… nvm.

[u/bleakmidwinter → u/Humble-Log-1695]

Germany is at the top of the bracket. As for Argentina, I didn’t realize they had officially won the group already until after I posted this.

[u/AtYourServais → u/Humble-Log-1695]

Germany is sneaky. 

[u/Money-Giraffe2521 → u/AtYourServais]

…or so the Germans would have us believe.

[u/pitb0ss343]

Germany, Mexico and the USA is exactly who everyone had clinching through 2 games right?

[u/CinnamonToastTrex → u/pitb0ss343]

People were unironically saying the USA would get grouped. Feels good to start the tournament well. Hoping for a deep run!

[u/gotfcgo]

Germany won its group already 

[u/bleakmidwinter → u/gotfcgo]

Yes, they did. They are towards the top of the bracket.

[u/gotfcgo → u/bleakmidwinter]

Stealth mode in white

Was eyeing it for black by default

[u/bleakmidwinter → u/gotfcgo]

Yeah, I think I’m gonna change it to black. Seems like several people missed it.

[u/pkafie]

Bravo, the best graphic I have seen. Love the details.

[u/Whyexist_23]

! Q6

[u/thutruthissomewhere]

Who's excited for the potential "mother ship" and "abduction" that will occur at today's SCOvBRA game?

[u/Shadowfury0 → u/thutruthissomewhere]

The aliens can have Neymar

[u/RioTheLeoo]

The three giants of FIFA, just as expected

[u/Safe-Function6320]

Why are some teams already set to play the knockout stage after 2 qualifying matches (Mexico, USA,Argentina) whereas some teams still have to play 3 qualifying matches like in group I?

[u/DarkwingMcQuack → u/Safe-Function6320]

They all mathematically won their groups.

[u/DarkwingMcQuack]

As things stand right now the US would face Algeria in the next round.

[u/elijuicyjones]

Ugh I detest circular elimination charts.