Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia at risk of early World Cup exit

The 2026 World Cup group stage is approaching its decisive final round, leaving several traditional powerhouses in a precarious position. Despite the expanded format allowing for the eight best third-placed teams to advance alongside the top two from each group, the path to the knockout stages remains uncertain for Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia.

Uruguay faces the most challenging scenario. Under Marcelo Bielsa, the team has managed only two points from their first two games and is still chasing their first win. Their final group match is against Spain, one of the tournament favorites. To stay alive, the Uruguayans must at least match the result of Cape Verde in their encounter with Saudi Arabia.

Belgium is also under immense pressure following a campaign that has failed to meet expectations. Currently sitting behind Egypt and Iran in their group, the Red Devils are set to face New Zealand. A victory is required to secure a place in the next round; a draw would leave them dependent on other group results, while a defeat would confirm their elimination.

Croatia, a finalist in 2018 and third-place finisher in 2022, enters the final round with no margin for error. After an opening loss to England and a subsequent win over Panama, the Croatians have three points and trail both England and Ghana. Their final fixture is a direct confrontation against Ghana, where the result will determine who advances and who goes home.