As the World Cup group phase reaches its climax, attention is swiftly turning to the knockout phase of the tournament.But first things first, how are teams ranked, and how do they progress to the next round?Of the 48 teams at this World Cup, just 16 will go home at the end of the group phase, leaving 32 teams to contest the first knockout round.If you think that reduces the jeopardy teams face for a bad performance in the group round, you're absolutely right.Nevertheless, performances in the group stage are still important Otherwise, what's the point of them?Here's your simple guide to how teams are ranked after the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.The top two teams in each of the 12, four-team groups will go through automatically to the next round.In theory, topping the group means an easier opponent in the first knockout round and, for teams like Canada and Mexico, a chance to stay in their home country for at least another match or two.Each team plays three games in the group stage, with a win worth three points, a draw one point, and a defeat nothing but ridicule from your peers (OK, the ridicule is assumed).Of course, with just three games being played, there is plenty of scope for teams to end the group stage level on points.At that point, tie breakers come into effect.Traditionally, and at every World Cup since 1970, the main tie breaker between teams level on points was goal difference — i.e