Last eight teams in World Cup knockouts: Sweden, Ghana, Ecuador lead third-place qualifiers for Round of 32

At this year’s tournament, eight teams will be thanking FIFA for extending the knockout-stage field with 32 teams instead of the classic 16-team look.

Teams that finished third in their group who had more desirable points and goal differential, got the last-second nod into the knockout stages. If teams had the same amount of points, goal differential (the difference between how many goals a team scores and allows) is examined as a tiebreaker.

Seven teams topped the third-place charts with four points (a win, a draw, and a loss), while Senegal qualified despite only having three total points.

Here are the eight teams that are still standing, despite finishing third place in their groups.

For the first time ever, third-place teams will be able to qualify for the knockout stages at the World Cup. Here’s which eight teams fell fortunate to news rules at this year’s tournament:

• Thanks to a neutral goal differential, Sweden is on to the Round of 32 with a win against Tunisia, a draw against Japan, and a loss to the Netherlands.

• Sweden will share the pitch with 2022 runner-up France in the Round of 32.

Thanks to a neutral goal differential, Sweden is on to the Round of 32 with a win against Tunisia, a draw against Japan, and a loss to the Netherlands.

Sweden will share the pitch with 2022 runner-up France in the Round of 32.

• A hard-fought draw against England and a win against Panama were enough to negate a loss to Croatia in Ghana’s final match and push them into the Round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

• Ghana will face the first-place team from Group K, either Portugal or Colombia.

A hard-fought draw against England and a win against Panama were enough to negate a loss to Croatia in Ghana’s final match and push them into the Round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

Ghana will face the first-place team from Group K, either Portugal or Colombia.

• After a shocking win against Germany, Ecuador is on its way to the Round of 32 as a third-place team. Their lone loss against the Ivory Coast was recovered by this win and a draw against Curacao.

• They will face the No. 1 seed from a group in the Round of 32.

After a shocking win against Germany, Ecuador is on its way to the Round of 32 as a third-place team. Their lone loss against the Ivory Coast was recovered by this win and a draw against Curacao.

They will face the No. 1 seed from a group in the Round of 32.

• A win against Qatar and a draw against co-host Canada were enough to save Bosnia and Herzegovina’s loss to Switzerland. They qualified for the Round of 32 as a third-place team.

• They will face the co-hosts United States, in the Round of 32.

A win against Qatar and a draw against co-host Canada were enough to save Bosnia and Herzegovina’s loss to Switzerland. They qualified for the Round of 32 as a third-place team.

They will face the co-hosts United States, in the Round of 32.

• Despite a tough first match against the United States, Paraguay pushed ahead with a draw against Australia and a win against Turkey and qualified for the Round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

• Paraguay will face Germany in the first round of the knockout stages.

Despite a tough first match against the United States, Paraguay pushed ahead with a draw against Australia and a win against Turkey and qualified for the Round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

Paraguay will face Germany in the first round of the knockout stages.

• Although they lost two matches to France and Norway, Senegal’s solo win against Iraq was enough to salvage their goal differential and push them into the Round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

• Senegal will face a first-place team in the Round of 32.

Although they lost two matches to France and Norway, Senegal’s solo win against Iraq was enough to salvage their goal differential and push them into the Round of 32 as a third-place finisher.

Senegal will face a first-place team in the Round of 32.

• Algeria qualified for the Round of 32 as the third-place team from Group J. After they took a late lead against Austria, the Algerians let up a late goal. With the draw though, Algeria still beat out Iran for the final third-place spot in the Round of 32.

• They will face Switzerland in the Round of 32.

Algeria qualified for the Round of 32 as the third-place team from Group J. After they took a late lead against Austria, the Algerians let up a late goal. With the draw though, Algeria still beat out Iran for the final third-place spot in the Round of 32.

They will face Switzerland in the Round of 32.

• In their first World Cup tournament since 1974, DR Congo became one of the last two teams to qualify for the Round of 32. With a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, Les Leopards finished as one of the eight third-place teams.

• DR Congo will face England in the opening knockout round.

In their first World Cup tournament since 1974, DR Congo became one of the last two teams to qualify for the Round of 32. With a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, Les Leopards finished as one of the eight third-place teams.

DR Congo will face England in the opening knockout round.