World Cup 2026 permutations: What the Arab teams need to reach the knockout stage (opens original article in a new tab)

Arab teams face complex permutations to advance in the World Cup 2026, with specific match outcomes and tiebreakers determining qualification.

• Arab teams need to meet specific criteria to advance to the World Cup knockout stage, including top two in groups or best third-place teams.
• Qatar could theoretically finish second in Group B with a four-goal win over Bosnia and Canada beating Switzerland by three goals.
• Egypt can guarantee top spot in Group G with a win against Iran, and fair play ratings could determine group top if tied on points and goal difference.