FIFA Club World Cup: Final Group Stage Scenarios and Knockout Matches

The last round of group games of the FIFA Club World Cup starts on June 23. Every game matters, and there are still knockout spots up for grabs in a few groups. The top two teams from each of the eight groups will move on. The remainder are going back home.

Here’s a detailed list of what each club needs to achieve to qualify, as well as a preview at how the knockout stage will look.

Tiebreaking Rules at the FIFA Club World Cup

If teams finish level on points, the following rules decide the rankings:

1. Head-to-head points
2. Head-to-head goal difference
3. Head-to-head goals scored
4. Overall goal difference
5. Overall goals scored
6. Fair play points:
   • Yellow card: −1
   • Two yellows = red: −3
   • Direct red: −4
   • Yellow plus direct red: −5
7. Drawing of lots (if still tied)

Group A: Palmeiras, Inter Miami in Control

Standings so far:

• Al Ahly 0–0 Inter Miami
• Palmeiras 0–0 Porto
• Palmeiras 2–0 Al Ahly
• Inter Miami 2–1 Porto

June 23 Fixtures

• Inter Miami vs Palmeiras
• Porto vs Al Ahly

Qualification Scenarios:

• Palmeiras: Advance with a draw or win. A loss is still okay if Porto don’t win.
• Inter Miami: Through with a draw. A loss is fine if Al Ahly don’t beat Porto.
• Porto: Must beat Al Ahly and hope Inter Miami win. Then goal difference decides.
• Al Ahly: Need to win and hope Palmeiras lose. Then goal difference settles it.

Group B: Three-Way Fight Between PSG, Botafogo, Atletico

Standings:

• PSG 4–0 Atletico
• Botafogo 2–1 Seattle
• Seattle 1–3 Atletico
• PSG 0–1 Botafogo

June 23 Fixtures

• Seattle vs PSG
• Atletico vs Botafogo

Scenarios:

• Botafogo: Through with a draw or win. Can still qualify if PSG don’t win.
• PSG: Must win. Draw is enough if Atletico don’t win.
• Atletico: Must avoid defeat and hope PSG drop points.
• Seattle: Need to win and hope Botafogo beat Atletico.

Group C: Benfica and Boca Fight for Second

Standings:

• Bayern 10–0 Auckland City
• Boca 2–2 Benfica
• Benfica 6–0 Auckland
• Bayern 2–1 Boca

June 24 Fixtures

• Auckland vs Boca
• Benfica vs Bayern

Scenarios:

• Bayern: Already through.
• Benfica: Safe unless they lose and Boca win. Then goal difference matters.
• Boca: Need to beat Auckland and hope Bayern win. Then GD decides.
• Auckland: Out.

Group D: Chelsea Need a Result

Standings:

• Chelsea 2–0 LAFC
• Flamengo 2–0 Espérance
• Flamengo 3–1 Chelsea
• LAFC 0–1 Espérance

June 24 Fixtures

• LAFC vs Flamengo
• Espérance vs Chelsea

Scenarios:

• Flamengo: Already qualified.
• Chelsea: Must avoid defeat. Draw or win sees them through.
• Espérance Tunis: Must beat Chelsea to go through.
• LAFC: Eliminated.

Group E: River Plate vs Inter Will Decide the Group

Standings:

• River Plate 3–1 Urawa
• Monterrey 1–1 Inter
• Inter 2–1 Urawa
• River 0–0 Monterrey

June 25 Fixtures

• Inter vs River
• Urawa vs Monterrey

Scenarios:

• River Plate: Win = in. Draw = in unless Monterrey win.
• Inter: Must avoid defeat. If they lose, it depends on Monterrey’s result.
• Monterrey: Need to beat Urawa and hope River don’t win.
• Urawa Reds: Out.

Group F: Three Teams Still Alive

Standings:

• Fluminense 0–0 Dortmund
• Ulsan 0–1 Sundowns
• Sundowns 3–4 Dortmund
• Fluminense 4–2 Ulsan

June 25 Fixtures

• Dortmund vs Ulsan
• Sundowns vs Fluminense

Scenarios:

• Fluminense: Win or draw puts them through. A loss = wait on Dortmund’s result.
• Dortmund: Draw or win = through. Lose? Could be out if Sundowns win.
• Sundowns: Must win.
• Ulsan: Out.

Group G: All Settled

Standings:

• Man City 2–0 Wydad
• Al Ain 0–5 Juventus
• Juventus 4–1 Wydad
• City 6–0 Al Ain

June 26 Fixtures

• Juventus vs Man City
• Wydad vs Al Ain

Scenarios:

• Juventus: Already through. Win or draw = top spot.
• Man City: Already through.
• Wydad, Al Ain: Out.

Group H: Real Madrid Not Safe Yet

Standings:

• Real Madrid 1–1 Al Hilal
• Pachuca 1–2 Salzburg
• Madrid 3–1 Pachuca
• Salzburg 0–0 Al Hilal

June 26 Fixtures

• Al Hilal vs Pachuca
• Salzburg vs Madrid

Scenarios:

• Real Madrid: Need to avoid defeat. If they lose, they rely on Al Hilal not winning.
• Salzburg: Win = in. Draw = in if Al Hilal don’t win.
• Al Hilal: Must win and hope Salzburg drop points.
• Pachuca: Eliminated.

Knockout Stage Schedule: Who Faces Who?

Here’s how the round of 16 and beyond will unfold:

Round of 16

• June 28 (12pm): Group A winner vs Group B runner-up (Philadelphia)
• June 28 (4pm): Group C winner vs Group D runner-up (Charlotte)
• June 29 (12pm): Group B winner vs Group A runner-up (Atlanta)
• June 29 (4pm): Flamengo vs Group C runner-up (Miami)
• June 30 (3pm): Group E winner vs Group F runner-up (Charlotte)
• June 30 (9pm): Group G winner vs Group H runner-up (Orlando)
• July 1 (3pm): Group H winner vs Group G runner-up (Miami)
• July 1 (9pm): Group F winner vs Group E runner-up (Atlanta)

Quarterfinals

• July 4 (3pm): Winner of Group E/F match vs Group G/H match (Orlando)
• July 4 (9pm): Group A/B winner vs Group C/D winner (Philadelphia)
• July 5 (12pm): Group B/A winner vs Flamengo/Group C runner-up (Atlanta)
• July 5 (4pm): Group H/G winner vs Group F/E runner-up (New Jersey)

Semifinals

• July 8 (3pm): Winners from July 4 games (New Jersey)
• July 9 (3pm): Winners from July 5 games (New Jersey)

Final

• July 13 (3pm): Championship match in New Jersey

The group stage is reaching its peak. Fans may expect drama in every game because every result affects the knockout bracket. Don’t miss a second of the FIFA Club World Cup as it heats up.