Another full day of FIFA World Cup action is in store as Group D, Group E and Group F play their final set of matches looking to secure their position in the Round of 32.
Here’s a close look at what to expect from the pitch on Thursday.
Cote d’Ivoire look to secure second in Group E; Ecuador has work to do
Curacao vs. Cote d’Ivoire - 4pm ET/1pm PT on TSN2, TSN.ca and TSN App
Cote d’Ivoire enters their final group-stage match against Curacao in a very good position to finish second, setting them up to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in history.
The game will take place at Philadelphia Stadium.
Ranked 31st in the world, the West African nation enters with three points and an even goal differential, giving them an 86 per cent of finishing second and a 95 per cent of advancing as a top three team, according to The Athletic.
Group E Standings
A second-place finish would result in a very difficult Round of 32 matchup against the Group I runner-up, Norway or France.
Cote d’Ivoire began their World Cup journey with a 1-0 win over Ecuador before falling to heavyweight Germany, 2-1, giving up the winner in the 94th minute at Toronto Stadium.
Cote d’Ivoire, who haven’t gotten past the group stage in their three prior appearances at the World Cup, didn’t register many scoring opportunities against the Germans as they were outshot 16-9, including 7-2 shots on target.
They should have more opportunities to score against 81st ranked Curacao, who are making their World Cup debut as the smallest nation to ever compete in the tournament.
After a 7-1 thrashing by Germany in their opener, Curacao earned their first World Cup point by hanging on for a scoreless draw against Ecuador on Saturday.
Curacao only had 25 per cent of the possession but still had some good opportunities to score late in the game.
An upset win over Cote d’Ivoire would give the Caribbean island nation a chance at advancing in improbable fashion. As it stands, they own a 14 per cent of moving on to the Round of 32.
The Group E runner-up will play their Round of 32 matchup in Dallas on June 30.
Ecuador vs. Germany – 4pm ET/1pm PT on TSN1/3/4, TSN.ca and TSN App
Germany doesn’t have much to play for as they already have first place in Group E locked up while Ecuador needs a victory in the most desperate way.
The two sides will go head-to-head at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Offence has been a major issue for Ecuador as the South American side has yet to find the back of the net at this year’s FIFA World Cup.
They fell to Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in their Group E opener before suffering a devastating scoreless draw against inexperienced Curacao, a result that will likely put a nail in the coffin of their knockout stage dreams.
Ecuador, led by the nation’s all-time leader scorer Enner Valencia, outshot Curacao, 26-10, including 15-4 on target, and owned 75 per cent of the possession, but still couldn’t find the back of the net.
They’ll need to find a way to earn three points against Germany and will need help from Curacao in their match against Cote d’Ivoire to finish second.
Ecuador, making their fifth World Cup appearance, has a 22 per cent of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in 2006.
Ninth-ranked Germany, meanwhile, will return to the knockout stage after failing to do so at the last two World Cups.
The Germans have clinched first in the group thanks to a pair of wins against Curacao and Cote d’Ivoire alongside a plus-seven goal differential. They’ll play in Boston on June 29 against a third-place team – likely Paraguay, Australia or Scotland – in the Round of 32.
Deniz Undav was the hero for Germany against Cote d’Ivoire in their last match at Toronto Stadium, scoring a brace, including the winner in the 94th minute. The VfB Stuttgart striker has a team-leading three goals and two assists in just 69 minutes of action.
Germany has one of the most decorated histories at the World Cup, winning four times in addition to four runner-up finishes and four third-place finishes.
Netherlands, Japan and Sweden look to capture Group F
Tunisia vs. Netherlands – 7pm ET/4pm PT on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and TSN App
The Dutch are the frontrunners to win Group F as they get set to take on Tunisia in their final group-stage matchup from Kansas City Stadium.
Eighth-ranked Netherlands enter the game with four points and a plus-four goal differential after drawing Japan 2-2 and blasting Sweden 5-1 in their first two matches.
Netherlands are tied with Japan in points and goal differential, but have scored one more goal for the tournament, currently giving them the tiebreaker and a 63 per cent of winning the group.
Group F Standings
A win against Tunisia, especially by a significant goal differential, would go a long way in their effort to win the group. Finishing first would result in a Round of 32 matchup in Monterrey, Mexico on June 29 against the Group C runner-up, Morocco.
The Dutch have shared the offensive efforts, with Crysencio Summerville, Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey each owning two goals apiece.
Netherlands, one of the best teams never to win a World Cup, have had their fair share of heartbreak at the event.
They were runners-up in back-to-back World Cups in the 1970s as well as in 2010 when they fell to Spain. Netherlands finished third in 2014 and fifth in 2022 when they were eliminated by eventual champion Argentina on dramatic penalties in the quarter-final.
It’s been a World Cup to forget for Tunisia as the North African nation have just one goal and two coaches so far in the tournament.
After a 5-1 rout by Sweden in their opening game, Tunisia, ranked 57th, decided to fire their manager, replacing Sabri Lamouchi with Hervé Renard.
The move did not pan out as Tunisia was hammered again in their second game, this time by Japan by a 4-0 score.
Tunisia has now failed to advance out of the group stage in their seven World Cup appearances.
Japan vs. Sweden – 7pm ET/4pm PT on TSN2, TSN.ca and TSN App
Both Japan and Sweden have a chance to win Group F entering Thursday’s finale from Dallas Stadium.
Japan has a 30 per cent of winning the group while Sweden sits at eight per cent, also holding a solid 94 per cent of advancing to the Round of 32 in some capacity.
Ranked 16th in the world, Japan is tied with Netherlands in points and goal differential but need to count on Tunisia having a solid game if they’re going to claim first.
Nevertheless, Japan will advance to the knockout stage in their third straight World Cup as they look to get past the Round of 16 for the first time in history. They were eliminated by Croatia on penalties at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A second-place finish means Japan will square off with the Group C winner, Brazil, in Houston on June 29.
Ayase Ueda and Daichi Kamada each have two goals for Japan.
Sweden, on the other hand, has a much steeper climb to win Group F, but are still in a solid position to advance.
The Swedes, ranked 36th, got off to a hot start with a rout a 5-1 rout of Tunisia before coming down to earth with a loss by the same score to Netherlands.
As a result, Sweden sits third in the group with three points and an even goal differential. A win against Japan and an upset draw or win from Tunisia against Netherlands would give Sweden the group, however a third-place finish is the most likely scenario at 67 per cent.
In that case, Group I winner – either France or Norway - would be their next opponent in the Round of 32 in New York on June 30.
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yasin Ayari leads the way with two goals for Sweden.
Sweden didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup, four years after reaching the quarters of the 2018 World Cup. They also finished third in 1994 and 1950 and second in 1958 as the host nation.
Australia, Paraguay battle for second in Group D clash
Paraguay vs. Australia – 10pm ET/7pm ET on TSN2, TSN.ca and TSN App
With host United States already secured as the Group D winners, Australia and Paraguay will go head-to-head in San Francisco looking to finish second.
Both sit at three points, but the Aussies can earn second with a draw or better given their superior goal differential.
Australia, ranked 26th, blanked Türkiye 2-0 in their first game at Vancouver’s BC Place before dropping a 2-0 decision to the United Sates on Friday.
The Socceroos have been to six straight World Cups and have a 91 per cent of advancing to the knockout stage for the second consecutive time.
Group D Standings
A second-place finish would result in Australia playing Belgium, Iran or Egypt in Dallas on July 3 in the Round of 32.
If they fall to third, the most likely scenario would be a date against Germany on June 29 in Boston.
No. 37 Paraguay eked out a 1-0 win over Türkiye with just ten men on Friday to turn their World Cup around following a 4-1 rout by the Americans in their opener.
Paraguay needs to beat Australia to finish second but still has an 88 per cent of advancing to the Round of 32 in some capacity.
They have a similar Round of 32 fate as Australia if they can advance as a second or third-place squad.
This is Paraguay’s first World Cup since 2010 when they made the quarter-final in South Africa, falling to eventual champion Spain.
Türkiye vs. United States – 10pm ET/7pm PT on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and TSN App
United States’ Group D finale will serve as a warmup for the knockout stage as Mauricio Pochettino’s side has already clinched first after a confident opening two games.
They know their Round of 32 matchup will be in San Francisco on July 1, most likely against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Americans began their home World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay before blanking Australia 2-0 and they’ll be the favourites against Türkiye in Los Angeles on Thursday.
United States were aided by own goals in each of their wins while Ligue 1 striker Folarin Balogun has scored twice.
Ranked 14th, the United States have been eliminated in the Round of 16 in their past three World Cup appearances in 2010, 2014 and 2022 when the Dutch sent them home in Qatar.
No. 32 Türkiye have no chance at advancing after dropping both of their matches without any goals scored for their side.
Türkiye held 78 per cent of the possession and recorded 33 shots, only six on net, in their crushing 1-0 loss to Paraguay on Friday.
This is the country’s first World Cup appearance since 2002 when they finished third.
