Croatia's win over Ghana dims South Korea's World Cup qualification hopes

Croatia's 2-1 victory over Ghana in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match has significantly narrowed South Korea's path to the next round. The win propelled Croatia to second place in Group L with six points, securing their spot in the 32-team knockout stage.

Ghana, despite the loss, finished third in the group with four points. Their campaign concludes here, leaving them outside the automatic qualification spots. The tournament structure allows for the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams to advance to the Round of 32.

South Korea, currently third in Group E with three points, now faces a precarious situation. Their qualification hinges on the outcomes of remaining matches in other groups, particularly Group K and Group J. The team must hope for specific results to keep their slim chances alive.

For South Korea to advance, favorable results are needed in Group K, where Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo must either draw, or Uzbekistan must win by a margin of five goals or less. In Group J, Austria needs to defeat Algeria, or Algeria must win by no more than two goals. The defeat of Ghana by Croatia eliminates one potential pathway for South Korea, making their qualification scenario even more complex and dependent on external results.