Saudi Green Clings to Hope.. Scenarios for Qualification to the Round of 32 in Group Eight

SadaNews - The curtain has fallen on the second round of Group Eight in the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, leaving the two qualification spots for the next round hanging until the third and final round.

The round witnessed a crushing victory for the Spanish national team over its Saudi counterpart, winning 4-0, raising its points to 4 at the top of the group, two points ahead of Uruguay and Cape Verde, who drew 2-2.

The Spanish team began its campaign in the tournament with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, while the Saudi team squandered a win against Uruguay after settling for a 1-1 draw despite leading with a goal from Abdul-Ilah Al-Amri.

The matches of the decisive third round will take place on Friday, June 26, at the same time, with Saudi Arabia facing Cape Verde, while Spain takes on Uruguay.

Group Eight Standings

Spain: 4 points (+4)

Uruguay: 2 points (0)

Cape Verde: 2 points (0)

Saudi Arabia: 1 point (-4)

Saudi Qualification Scenarios

The Saudi team must win against Cape Verde to keep its hopes alive for qualification, regardless of the outcome of the Spain vs. Uruguay match.

Any other result, whether a draw or a loss, would mean the "Green" exits the tournament, as they would remain in last place with 2 points if they draw, or 1 point if they lose.

Cape Verde's Qualification Scenarios

Cape Verde has several opportunities to qualify for the next round:

If they win against Saudi Arabia: They qualify directly to the second round regardless of the outcome of the Spain vs. Uruguay match, and could also top the group.

If they draw with Saudi Arabia and Spain wins against Uruguay: They will qualify for the next round with 3 points in second place, behind Spain, which will raise its tally to 7 points, while Uruguay drops to third place with 2 points.

If they draw with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay wins against Spain: They will occupy third place with 3 points, and their fate will depend on the ranking of the best third-placed teams.

If both matches end in a draw: Goal difference and then the number of goals scored will determine the second-place team between Uruguay and Cape Verde.

So far, Uruguay has scored 3 goals and conceded the same number, while Cape Verde has scored 2 goals and conceded 2. Therefore, a draw with a score higher than 2-2 may give Cape Verde the advantage in goals scored.

Has Spain Secured Qualification?

The Spanish national team has not officially secured qualification yet, but it has several scenarios for advancing:

Winning against Uruguay: Guarantees qualification at the top of the group.

A draw: Also guarantees qualification, while retaining the top position unless Cape Verde beats Saudi Arabia by more than 4 goals.

Losing to Uruguay: Spain could still qualify if Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde draw, or if Saudi Arabia wins by a margin that doesn’t compensate for Spain’s loss.

What Does Uruguay Need?

Uruguay guarantees direct qualification if they win against Spain.

A draw might not be enough if one of the teams, Saudi Arabia or Cape Verde, succeeds in winning.

If they lose to Spain, the Uruguayan team will officially exit the tournament, regardless of the result of the other match.

Thus, all possibilities remain open in Group Eight before the final round, with Spain enjoying a relative advantage, while Saudi Arabia’s chances are tied to achieving a win and waiting for the competitors' results.

Source: Al Jazeera