Why Bosnia, third in the group, already knows their next opponent

Of the twelve third-placed teams, the eight best make it into the group Round of 16. While some group winners like the… Netherlands to a runner-up in the group (Morocco), other first-placed teams play against a third-placed group.

Whoever meets whom has that FIFA before the start of the tournament in total 495 different combinations defined. This appendix to FIFA’s World Cup regulations is 18 pages long. The rules for a soccer tournament are more like a hacker code.

Bosnia versus USA

The background to this whole effort: The Third place They shouldn’t immediately face a team they’ve already played against Group stage have played.

After half of the twelve groups had already been played, the number shrank possible scenarios on 51 together. They all have one thing in common: Bosnia meets the first in Group D – the World Cup hosts USA. That much is certain.