You qualify for the Round of 32 by finishing in the top two of your group, or by being one of the best third-placed teams if the tournament format allows it. In the current World Cup setup, the top two teams from each group advance automatically, and the next-best third-place teams also move on.

How it works

For the tournament mentioned in the sources, a team that finishes third can still advance if its record is strong enough compared with the other third- place teams. The key factors are points first, then goal difference, and then other tiebreakers if needed.

What to watch

  • Points : More points usually means a better chance to qualify.
  • Goal difference : This can separate teams with the same points.
  • Results in other groups : Third-place qualification depends on how teams in the other groups finish.

In the current context

The latest reporting says South Korea’s chance of reaching the Round of 32 was still under 50% after the group-stage results shifted, because other third- placed teams were also competing for the remaining spots.

TL;DR

To qualify for the Round of 32, finish top two in your group or, if the format allows, rank among the best third-place teams across groups. In this case, the team’s fate depends on points, goal difference, and results elsewhere.