Ranking the 13th-24th Place Finishers in 2026 Quiz

Although Portugal was seeded first in their group they started off with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They got on track in their next game with a 5-0 win against Uzbekistan which assured them of advancing to the knockouts but needed a win against Colombia in their final group stage game in order to win the group. However, the game ended up a scoreless draw meaning that Portugal finished second in the group.

In their first knockout stage game Portugal faced Croatia in a match where each team's captain was born in 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Luka Modric for Croatia. Portugal was able to break a 1-1 tie in stoppage time and hung on for a 2-1 win. This advanced them to the Round of 16 where they faced Spain, a team that had not given up a goal in their first four matches. The game was scoreless until stoppage time when this time Portugal was the victim of a late game winner and eliminated 1-0, to finish in 13th place with two wins, two draws, and a loss.

This was Portugal's seventh straight appearance in the World Cup and ninth overall. In 2006 they finished in fourth place but their best finish was in their very first appearance in 1966 when they finished third.

Canada started the tournament with a come from behind 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. They then exploded to a 6-0 win over a Qatar team that saw two players sent off with straight red cards, one in each half. This meant that they were tied with Switzerland going into their last group game but that Canada would win the group with a draw or a win as they had the better goal differential. However, they gave up two goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half and could only get one back and so lost 2-1 and dropped to second place in the group.

This meant that Canada would play in the first ever round of 32 game in the World Cup against fellow group runner up South Africa. Because Canada did not win their group they had to travel to California for this match. It appeared as though the match would go to extra time as no one scored in the first 90 minutes but then Canada broke through with the first goal of the game in the 2nd minute of stoppage time to take a 1-0 win and move on to the round of 16.

In the Round of 16 Canada faced another group runner-up, Morocco who entered the tournament as the 7th ranked team in the world. The first half was another scoreless draw but the second half was all Morocco as they scored three goals and held Canada scoreless. A 3-0 defeat left Canada in 14th place with two wins, one draw, and two losses.

This was Canada's second consecutive and third overall appearance in the World Cup, with their first one coming back in 1986. In both of their previous appearances they lost all three group stage matches so two wins and a draw this time was a marked improvement.

Egypt started out on the right foot with a 1-1 draw against group favorites Belgium followed by a 3-1 win against New Zealand. This meant that they were guaranteed to move on to the knockout stage going into their last group stage and they were just playing to determine their finishing place in the group. A win against Iran would mean topping the group while a draw or a loss would leave them dependent on the other game being played between Belgium and New Zealand to determine their specific spot. The game was tied in stoppage time when Iran appeared to score the winning goal but it was called back due to offsides and the game ended 1-1. With Belgium beating New Zealand by more than two goals, Egypt dropped to second in the group based on goal differential.

In the first round of the knockouts Egypt played Australia. Egypt started off well with a goal in the 13th minute but then were unable to score again. Australia was able to equalize early in the second half and neither team was able to score again in either regular time or added extra time. This meant the game would go to a penalty kick shootout as a 1-1 draw. In the shootout Egypt was successful on all four of their attempts while Australia missed the target with two of their kicks so the fifth round was not necessary as Egypt had clinched the shootout win 4-2.

This meant that Egypt would play defending champion Argentina in the round of 16. The game started well for Egypt as they scored early in the first half and doubled their lead midway through the second. However, Argentina scored twice in a 4 minute span to tie the game and then scored the winner in the 2nd minute of stoppage time sending Egypt home in 15th place with one win, three draws, and one loss.

This was Egypt's fourth appearance in the World Cup and first since 2018. The win was their first ever win in the World Cup as they previously had three losses in 2018 and two draws and a loss in 1990. In 1934, the first time they entered the World Cup, the tournament was a straight knockout with no group stage. They were the lone African representative and lost in the first round to Hungary 4-2. They were supposed to play in the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay but a storm in the Mediterranean delayed them and they missed the ship that would have taken them across the Atlantic.

Paraguay had a rough start to the tournament having to open against co-hosts, the USA. The US scored three goals in the first half before Paraguay was able to get one back midway through the second but not before midfielder Miguel Almiron was adversely affected for the first (but not last) time by one of FIFA's new rules. Almiron appeared to be fouled deep in US territory and the defender who fouled him was given a yellow card. However, at the next stoppage after the free kick was taken, VAR suggested the referee go to the monitor and have another look at the foul. The replay showed that there was no contact with the defender and that Almiron had simulated the foul. The yellow card against the US player was rescinded and given to Almiron instead. The US added a goal late in stoppage time and Paraguay was in a hole with a 4-1 loss.

In their second group game Paraguay scored in the second minute against Turkey. They then had to defend for their lives as once again Miguel Almiron ran afoul of the law, this time during first half stoppage time. During a confrontation among several players Almiron covered his mouth and said something to one of his opponents. This was prohibited by a new rule to prevent players from making racist comments to opponents while hiding from lip readers watching the video and resulted in an automatic red card. Despite playing the entire second half down a man neither team was able to score and the game ended in a 1-0 win for Paraguay.

This meant that Paraguay would finish second in the group with a win in their final game against Australia but third with a draw due to a poorer goal differential. Since four points would likely see both teams through both teams were content with a 0-0 draw and Paraguay was through as one of the top eight third place teams.

In the first round of the knockouts Paraguay played Germany. Paraguay was able to score first late in the first half but then Germany equalized early in the second and the game ended 1-1 after both regulation and added extra time meaning it would go to a penalty kick shootout. While Paraguay scored on their first three kicks Germany missed on two of their first four meaning all Paraguay needed to do was convert one of their next two to advance. However one was missed and the other saved and the shootout went to a sixth round. When the German missed the net with his kick and the Paraguayan scored, Paraguay was through to the round of 16.

In the Round of 16 Paraguay faced France. The French dominated most of the game but were unable to score until there was a foul in the penalty box and they were able to convert the 70th minute penalty kick for the game's only score. The 1-0 loss eliminated Paraguay in 16th place, the only one of the eight third-placed teams that made the knockout stage to advance to the Round of 16. They finished with one win, two draws, and two losses.

This was Paraguay's eighth appearance in the World Cup and the first since 2010. Their best ever finish was in 2010 when they lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champions Spain.

The Netherlands came in as the top ranked team in their group but could only manage a 2-2 draw with Japan in their opening game as they took the lead twice in the second half but gave up the equalizer both times. They were able to easily win both of their other two group games, 5-1 over Sweden and 3-1 over Tunisia which gave them first place in their group.

Winning their group matched them up with Morocco who was ranked 7th coming into the tournament compared with 8th for the Netherlands. The Netherlands scored first midway through the second half and held on to the lead into stoppage time before giving up the equalizer in the 91st minute. After 30 minutes of scoreless added extra time the game finished 1-1 before heading to penalty kicks to decide who would advance. Although the Netherlands made their first penalty while Morocco missed theirs, the Netherlands failed to score on three of their next four while Morocco converted three of theirs to win 3-2. The Netherlands finished in 17th, the top team to be eliminated in the round of 32, with two wins and two draws.

This was the second consecutive time and twelfth overall that the Netherlands played in the World Cup. Excluding 2018 when they failed to qualify, it was the third straight time they were eliminated in penalty kicks after losing in added extra time in the 2010 finals. In 2014 they came back from being eliminated in penalty kicks in the semifinals to beat hosts Brazil in the third place game. In 1998 they also had a top four finish ending in fourth. But they are most noted for having finished as runner up three times in 1974, 1978, and 2010. That is the most runner-up finishes among teams that have never won the tournament.

Germany started off with a 7-1 rout over debutante Curacao, although Curacao was able to get their hopes up when they tied the game in the 21st minute. Germany followed that up with a 2-1 come from behind win with a stoppage time game winner over Ivory Coast. This guaranteed they would win the group. Unlike several other teams that had already clinched first in the group, Germany only changed three starters from their previous game for their final group game. They got off to a good start against Ecuador with a controversial 2nd minute goal (it probably should have been reversed due to a foul in the build up) but gave up the equalizer 7 minutes later before conceding the game winner midway through the second half leading to a 2-1 loss.

In the Round of 32 Germany faced Paraguay. After giving up a goal late in the first half Germany was able to equalize early in the second. However, neither team was able to score after that and the game was a 1-1 draw going into the penalty kick shootout. Germany had never lost a penalty kick shootout in the World Cup in four previous attempts. However, two of their first four shots were saved meaning Paraguay only needed to convert one of their last two to win. They were unable to do that and the shootout continued into an extra sudden death round. Germany kicked the ball over the crossbar while Paraguay scored to advance and eliminate Germany in 18th place with two wins, one draw, and one loss.

This was Germany's twenty-first World Cup, missing only 1930 when they chose not to enter and 1950 when they were banned after World War 2. From 1954 to 1990 the results of West Germany count towards Germany's record while East Germany is considered separately. Germany had made the semifinals thirteen times with one fourth place finish, four thirds, four runners up, and four championships (1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014). However, since that 2014 WC they had failed to advance to the Round of 16 in three World Cups.

Cote d'Ivoire's opener against Ecuador was scoreless until the 90th minute when Cote d'Ivoire broke through and scored to get a 1-0 win. In their next match against favored Germany they took a one goal lead midway through the first half before giving up the equalizer midway through the second half and the game winner in stoppage time to lose 2-1. This meant they needed a win or draw against Curacao in their final group game to move on to the knockout round. Scoring once in each half, Cote d'Ivoire pulled off the 2-0 win and finished second in the group.

In the Round of 16 Cote d'Ivoire went up against Norway. Norway took a 1-0 lead late in the first half before Cote d'Ivoire equalized midway through the second. But in the 86th minute Norway went ahead again, this time for good, as Cote d'Ivoire was eliminated after a 2-1 loss. Two wins and two losses was good enough for 19th place.

This was Cote d'Ivoire's fourth appearance in the World Cup with the other three coming between 2006 and 2014. In their first three tries they won one game each time and in 2010 also had a draw, but none of those results was enough to qualify for the knockout stage.

Croatia started off with an exciting match against England, a rematch of the 2018 semi-final that Croatia won. They fell behind twice in the first half but equalized both times. However, they gave up two goals in the second half without being able to answer and lost 4-2. In their second match they scored a second half goal to beat Panama 1-0 keeping their hopes of making the knockout round alive. A draw in their group finale against Ghana would give them third in the group but with a good enough record to be one of the top eight third place teams while a win would move them into second. A loss would see them eliminated. They took the lead midway through the first half but gave up the tying goal midway through the second. 10 minutes later they scored the winning goal to give them second in the group and a ticket to the round of 32.

In the knockout round they faced Portugal. After a scoreless first half, Croatia took the lead 8 minutes into the second half. Portugal earned a penalty kick which they converted to equalize 15 minutes later. Then in stoppage time Portugal went ahead 2-1. It appeared that Croatia had tied it towards the end of stoppage time but the goal was ruled offsides when the ball appeared to graze one of the Croatian players on the way to the player who scored thus putting him offsides. The 2-1 loss knocked Croatia out in 20th place with two wins and two losses. They slotted in behind Cote d'Ivoire due to a poorer goal differential.

This was Croatia's seventh appearance in the World Cup since 1998 with 2010 the only one they missed out on. Up until 1990 they were part of Yugoslavia whose records transferred to Serbia for historical purposes. Croatia finished third in both 1998 and 2022 but their best result was runners up to France in 2018.

Japan started off against group favorites the Netherlands. The Netherlands took the lead twice but Japan was able to equalize both times the second time in the 88th minute to end the game with a 2-2 draw. In the next game they took care of Tunisia 4-0 which essentially guaranteed they would qualify for the knockout round. A win or a draw against Sweden would guarantee that they finished no worse than second in the group. This time they were the team that took the lead early in the second half but Sweden came back with a goal 6 minutes later earning each team a 1-1 and a second place finish for Japan.

In the Round of 32 Japan went up against Brazil. Japan was able to score first midway through the first half and hung on to the lead until early in the second half when Brazil equalized. The game remained tied until the 5th minute of stoppage time when Brazil scored to take the lead and ultimately win the game 2-1. Japan's one win, two draws, and one loss was good enough for 21st place just ahead of Australia who had the same record but a poorer goal differential.

This was Japan's eighth consecutive World Cup appearance having qualified every time since they first qualified in 1998. They made the Round of 16 four times, in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022, but have been eliminated after their first knockout game every time, twice on penalties (2010 and 2022).

Australia opened their World Cup campaign against Turkiye. After scoring a goal in each half they finished with a 2-0 win. Their next game was against hosts the USA. This time it was the US who scored twice in the first half, handing Australia a 2-0 loss. This combined with the other results so far in the group meant that Australia would finish second in the group with a win or a draw in their final group game against Paraguay, while a loss would mean they would have to wait to see if they would finish among the top eight third place teams (they wouldn't have). Since Paraguay was in a similar situation where a draw would likely see them through while a loss would likely eliminate them, neither team strained themselves and the game ended in a 0-0 draw, one of only seven scoreless draws in 72 group games.

In the first round of the knockouts Australia faced off against Egypt. While Egypt got a goal early in the first half Australia was able to equalize early in the second half. Neither team was able to score in the rest of regulation or in added extra time so the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with penalty kicks being used to determine who would advance and who would be eliminated. With about a minute left in added extra time Australia used their final substitution to bring on their penalty kick specialist goalkeeper. Unfortunately for the Aussies it didn't help as he was unable to stop any of Egypt's penalty kicks while two of his teammates missed the target allowing Egypt to advance and dropping Australia into 22nd place with one win, two draws, and one loss.

This was Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall with their other entry in 1974. In 2006 and 2022 they also qualified for the knockouts, going out in the round of 16 on both occasions, losing by one goal in each to the eventual tournament winner (Italy and Argentina).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) opened up against group favorites Portugal. Portugal took a one goal lead in the 6th minute but DRC was able to tie things up during first half stoppage time. The second half was scoreless giving DRC a point for a 1-1 draw. In the second game the faced Colombia and gave up a goal midway through the second half to go down to defeat 1-0. This meant that they needed a win in their third game against Uzbekistan in order to move on as one of the top eight third place teams. Uzbekistan came out strong and took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes in but DRC was able to equalize midway through the second half and then go on to score two more goals before the final whistle to win 3-1 and move on as the top finishing third place team.

In their first knockout they met England. DRC surprised everyone with a seventh minute goal to take an early lead and then withstood an onslaught from England for almost 70 minutes before giving up the tying goal and then yielded the winning goal 11 minutes later as England won 2-1. This left DRC in 23rd place with one win, one draw, and two losses. They were the top ranked team that finished with four points based on their even goal differential.

This was the second time the DRC qualified for the World Cup, the first time coming back in 1974 when they were still known as Zaire. On that occasion they lost all three group games by a combined score of 14-0.

Ghana opened their 2026 campaign against Panama, turning what looked like a scoreless draw into a 1-0 win with a goal in the 5th minute of second half stoppage time. In Ghana's second game, this one against England, there were no stoppage time heroics and the game ended 0-0. This meant they went into their final group game against Croatia knowing that even a loss would qualify them for the knockouts as one of the top eight third placed teams. Croatia needed at least a draw to move on; and scored first midway through the first half. Ghana tied it in the second half but Croatia went ahead again late in the second to win 2-1 and leave Ghana in third place in the group.

This earned Ghana a game against Colombia in the Round of 32. Colombia opened, and closed, the scoring in the 14th minute and took a 1-0 win putting Ghana into a 24th place finish with one win, one draw, and two losses.

This was Ghana's fifth World Cup since 2006 (they missed 2018). In 2006 they made the knockout stage but lost their first game. Then in 2010 they won their first knockout game to make the quarterfinals. There they had a chance to become the first African team to make the semifinals when they were awarded a penalty kick at the very end of added extra time but kicked it off the crossbar. The game then went to a penalty kick shootout and Ghana lost that 4-2.