The final round of FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage matches begins on June 24. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

The final set of group-stage matches is set to begin from June 24 when Switzerland faces Canada and Qatar takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As has been the case in previous editions, matches of the same group will be played simultaneously instead of at different times as in the first and second rounds of group matches.

This is done to ensure that no teams are certain of a result that guarantees its progression to the knockout stages.

WHY ARE THE FINAL GROUP-STAGE MATCHES PLAYED SIMULTANEOUSLY?

The final group-stage matches are played simultaneously to ensure that a situation to the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ in the 1982 World Cup does not occur again.

During the 1982 edition, West Germany and Austria met in their final group stage match knowing that a 1-0 West Germany win would be enough to send both teams through at the expense of Algeria — which played its final match a day before.

The North African side had defeated West Germany 2-1 in its opening match. It then lost 0-2 to Austria in its next match before finishing the group stage with a 3-2 win against Chile. In the process, it also became the first-ever African team to win twice at a World Cup.

A West Germany win by one or two goals would have seen the Germans and Austria qualify based on goal difference. A West Germany win by four goals or more would have been seen the former qualify with Algeria. A West Germany win by exactly three goals would have sent Algeria and Austria to the next tiebreaker (goals scored).

In that scenario, where West Germany had won by a margin of three and a tiebreaker happened between the other two sides, Austria could have qualified only if it scored two goals or more in its defeat (i.e 5-2 or 6-3 etc.)

Thus, the Germans found the net early on in the match and both sides played out the rest of the match making no real effort to score. They both progressed, and Algeria was knocked out.

Published on Jun 24, 2026