Waiting for Results: The Remaining Scenarios for the Round of 32

[Anchor]

Our national team has already dropped to 6th place, nearing the cutoff line of the top 8 teams that can secure a spot in the Round of 32.

Still, what is the best-case scenario we can hope for? Reporter Hong Seok-jun breaks it down.

[Reporter]

To advance to the Round of 32, we must finish within the top 8 among the 12 third-place teams in each group. As seen earlier, we slipped from 4th place yesterday, June 25, to 6th place today, June 26.

So, what needs to happen over the next two days of the group stage for us to reach the Round of 32?

In short, we need three out of these six specific results to occur between tomorrow and the day after.

Since Scotland, the third-place team in Group C, has already been confirmed to finish below us, we only need three more teams to fall behind us to secure a spot in the top 8.

Let us look at the matches starting tomorrow.

In Group G, current 1st-place Egypt must defeat 2nd-place Iran. If this happens, the 3rd-place team in Group G will definitely have fewer points than us.

Group H is similar. If 1st-place Spain beats 2nd-place Uruguay, the 3rd-place team will also have fewer points than us.

Group I is a bit more complicated. 3rd-place Senegal and 4th-place Iraq are facing off for the 3rd-place spot. Since both teams already have two losses, a draw is the best-case scenario for us.

We are ahead of Senegal by 2 goals and Iraq by 5 goals in goal difference, so it would also be acceptable if Senegal wins by only 1 goal or if Iraq wins by 4 goals or fewer.

If none of these favorable conditions are met tomorrow, we will need a miracle on Sunday. This would require Austria to beat Algeria in Group J, or for Algeria to win by at least two goals; for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Group K to draw or lose against Uzbekistan; and for Ghana in Group L to defeat Croatia—all of these must happen.

To summarize, Korea can advance to the Round of 32 if three of these six results occur over the next two days.

Meanwhile, if we advance to the Round of 32, it is virtually confirmed that we will face the 1st-place team from Group G in Seattle, USA, next Thursday.

Reported by Hong Seok-jun | Video by Park Ki-deok | Graphics by Park Tae-young | Produced by Kim Jun-yong
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.