Korea clinging to last spot to qualify for knockouts

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — With one matchday left in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, Korea are clinging to the last spot to sneak into the knockout phase. Korea are eighth among the 12 third-place countries after Groups G, H and I completed their play Friday across Mexico, Canada and the United States. They are now battling for one of three remaining knockout tickets.

With the tournament now featuring 48 teams, up from 32, eight best third-place teams will advance to the knockout stage, along with the top two countries from each of the 12 groups. The group stage will end Saturday with matches for teams in Groups J, K and L. The goal difference is the first tiebreaker among third-place nations, followed by goals scored.

Korea finished third in Group A on three points from a win and two losses. They defeated Czechia 2-1 on June 11 but lost to Mexico 1-0 seven days later. A win or a draw against South Africa on Wednesday would have sent Korea into the round of 32 as the Group A runner-up, but Korea instead lost 1-0.

Korea began Friday sixth in the standings for third-place nations but dr