Open playoff competitors to be known today

The World Cup fans already know what six of the eight fixtures of the next phase of the tournament will be like. Today (June 26) is the day when the final qualifiers will decide the last pending matches of the first playoff round.

Out of the eight teams involved on this Thursday's games, only Belgium is sure to stay in Brazil for at least a few more days. The already qualified “Red Devils”, as Belgium squad are known, take on South Korea in São Paulo at 5pm. A draw will do to confirm them ahead of Group H. South Korea have a more difficult challenge though. They need to beat the Belgians by a wide margin of goals and hope that Algeria do not beat Russia in the meantime in Curitiba.

Algerians just need to beat Russia to secure a place as runner-ups. On Russia's side, though, victory would need to come coupled with a win by South Korea over Belgium.

In Group G, the situation is simpler, but more controversial. Germany and the United States face off at 13h, in the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. Both teams have four points and a mere tie would mean qualification for both of them, with Germany on top. Even a defeat would see the two teams in the second phase depending on goal difference and on the other parallel match of the group.

The situation with Germany is more comfortable. With a surplus of four goals, they could lose by a difference of two goals and still have chances of moving ahead even if as runners-up. Now the USA can not afford a similar margin having only one goal to spare.

Meanwhile in Brasília, Portugal and Ghana face off in with a dramatic script to work out. Both teams need to win to qualify and hope that there is a winner in the other game. In the event of a tie, both teams drop out together regardless of the outcome at Arena Pernambuco.

Between Portuguese and Ghana, however, the African team has better chances. With a negative difference of one goal, Ghana must win by two goals' difference and hope that the United States lose by a simple score – 1-0 would suffice. Because of a defeat in the opening round, Portugal must trounce and hope that the USA lose thus staying behind them at goal difference.

All times are stated in Brasília time (UTC-3).

Translated by Mayra Borges