Group A, Group B, and Group C will be featured on Wednesday as the final set of group-stage matches begin at the FIFA World Cup.
Lets take a closer look at Wednesday’s action and what’s at stake.
Canada, Switzerland play for top spot in Group B
Switzerland vs. Canada - 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on TSN1/3/4/5, TSN.ca, and the TSN App
After earning their first World Cup point, then their first win, Canada has a chance to reach another milestone on Wednesday when they face Switzerland. A win or draw would mean Canada finishes atop the Group B standings.
Canada is coming off a dominant 6-0 win against Qatar last time out. Jonathan David became the 51st person to score a hat trick in a World Cup and just the second CONCACAF player to do so.
Qatar was reduced to nine men for much of the match due to two red cards, including one to Assim Madibo early in the second half after a tackle on Ismaël Koné. Koné was stretchered off the field with a broken leg.
Injuries have been a recurring story for Canada throughout the World Cup. On top of the devastating injury to Koné, Alphonso Davies is yet to play for Canada.
Davies suffered an hamstring injury in early May. He was available for the match against Qatar but did not play.
Defender Moise Bombito played in the second half of Canada’s match against Qatar. Bombito suffered a fractured tibia in October.
Canada can maintain home-field advantage if they top Group B. A first-place finish means that they would stay in Vancouver for their Round of 32 match. If Switzerland tops the group, Canada will travel to Los Angeles for their Round of 32 match.
Group B Standings
Both Canada and Switzerland enter their final group stage match with a win and a draw in their previous two matches.
Canada occupies the top spot in Group B thanks to goal differential. Switzerland needs to win Wednesday’s match to take the top spot in the group.
While Switzerland came away with a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the game was scoreless until Johan Manzambi scored in the 74th minute. Manzambi had another goal, while Ruben Vargas and Granit Xhaka also scored for Switzerland.
Switzerland outshot Bosnia and Herzegovina 13-4, including 8-3 in shots on target.
Switzerland is set up to reach the knockout stage for the seventh consecutive time at a major competition.
The winner of Group B will play their Round of 32 match on July 2. Second place will play the first knockout stage match on June 28.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar - 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on TSN2, TSN.ca, and the TSN App
Bosnia and Herzegovina have the upper hand on Qatar in the standings due to goal differential, but each team had a draw and a loss in their previous two matches. Bosnia and Herzegovina could still qualify for a spot in the knockout stage with a win over Qatar.
While they collapsed late, Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to hold Switzerland to a scoreless draw until the final 20 minutes of their match.
Qatar have averaged 26 percent possession in their matches against Switzerland and Canada. They will be without Homam Ahmed and Assim Madibo, who were both given red cards in Qatar’s match against Canada.
This is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second trip to the World Cup. They did not advance out of the group stage in the previous appearance in 2014.
This is also the second World Cup appearance for Qatar, though it’s the first time the country has qualified for the tournament. They took part in 2022 as the host nation. Qatar’s draw against Switzerland was their first point in World Cup history.
Brazil, Morocco seek top spot in Group C
Scotland vs. Brazil - 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on TSN1/3/4, TSN.ca, and the TSN App
Brazil sits atop the Group C standings thanks to having a superior goal differential to Morocco. A draw would guarantee Brazil a place in the knockout stage.
Brazil is coming off a 3-0 win over Haiti, during which they outshot their opponent 9-8, including 5-4 in shots on target.
Raphinha left Brazil’s game against Haiti with a hamstring injury. He will not be available for Wednesday’s game against Scotland.
Neymar could make his first appearance in this World Cup against Scotland after missing Brazil’s first two matches with a calf injury. Neymar has not played for Brazil since October of 2023 due to series of injuries.
Group C Standings
Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup history. They have won the tournament five times, though their last title was in 2002.
Brazil is the only national team to play in every FIFA World Cup.
Scotland sits one point behind Brazil and Morocco in the Group C standings following a 1-0 win over Haiti and a 1-0 loss to Morocco.
A win against Brazil will see Scotland qualify through to the knockout stage for the first time in the country’s eight World Cup appearances. Scotland’s most recent World Cup appearance was in 1998.
As things stand, Scotland would still be able to qualify for the knockout stage even with a narrow loss against Brazil. However, a draw would increase their chances of advancing past the group stage for the first time in the country’s history.
Morocco vs. Haiti - 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on TSN2, TSN.ca, and the TSN App
Morocco still has the opportunity to top Group C, while Haiti has already been eliminated from contention for the knockout stage.
Both Brazil and Morocco have four points entering their final group-stage matches. Morocco trails Brazil in the Group C standings due to goal differential.
If Morocco beat Haiti, while Brazil and Scotland draw, Morocco will top the group. If both Morocco and Brazil win, Morocco will need to score enough to overcome a two goal deficit in differential.
Morocco has only scored twice in their first two matches, while Haiti has surrendered four goals. With goal differential potentially deciding the group, Morocco will try to score as much as possible against Haiti.
Morocco finished fourth in the 2022 World Cup. They are the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals at a World Cup.
South Africa, Czechia eye knockout stage in Group A
South Africa vs. Korea Republic - 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on TSN2, TSN.ca, and the TSN App
While Mexico has already locked up top spot, there is still a lot on the line for the other teams in Group A.
Korea Republic sits second in Group A following a 2-1 win over Czechia and a 1-0 loss against Mexico. A draw against South Africa would guarantee a spot in the Round of 32 for Korea Republic.
Korea Republic advanced to the Round of 16 in 2022. The country’s best result at a World Cup was in 2002, when they finished fourth as a host nation.
Group A Standings
Despite entering this match fourth in the Group A standings, South Africa could move into second with a win over Korea Republic, depending on the results of the match between Czechia and Mexico.
South Africa is back in the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010. It’s the fourth trip to the World Cup for South Africa, but the country has never advanced past the group stage.
South Africa has scored just one goal in their first two matches, while surrendering three.
South Africa needs a win to qualify for the knockout stage. A draw could move them into third in Group A standings, depending on the results between Czechia and Mexico, but it likely wouldn’t be enough to be one of the eight best third-place teams.
Czechia vs. Mexico - 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on TSN1/4, TSN.ca, and the TSN App
Mexico has already secured their place at the top of Group A with wins over South Africa and Korea Republic. Mexico did not give up a goal in either of their first two matches.
For Czechia to keep their knockout stage hopes alive, they need a win. Czechia sits ahead of South Africa in Group A due to goal differential. A win over Mexico would bring Czechia to four points, which would likely be enough to advance to knockout stage regardless of whether they finish second or third in the Group A standings.
Czechia is playing in their first World Cup since 2006. Mexico failed to advance passed the group stage in 2022, ending a streak of seven straight Round of 16 appearances.
