Skip to content

England's possible route to the World Cup final: Who could they face?

Gareth Southgate celebrates England's 2-1 over Tunisia
Image: Gareth Southgate's side are already into the last-16

As the World Cup group stage reaches its conclusion, we assess England's possible route to the final.

Gareth Southgate's side are already through to the last-16 having beaten Tunisia and Panama in Group G, but the outcome of Thursday evening's meeting with Belgium will dictate whether they go through as group winners or in second place.

Which scenario would provide a more favourable route to the final? Here, we take a look at the two sides of the draw.

World Cup group tables

England will face either Japan or Colombia in the last 16
Image: England will face either Japan or Colombia in the last 16

If they win Group G

England currently sit above Belgium at the top of Group G owing to their superior disciplinary record (they have received two bookings to Belgium's three). If they stay there after Thursday evening's meeting between the two sides, they will face Group H runners-up Japan.

Japan were beaten 1-0 by Poland in their final group game, leaving them level on points with Senegal behind Colombia, but they pipped Aliou Cisse's side to second place thanks to their superior fair play record.

Thiago Silva celebrates with his Brazil team-mates
Image: England could face Brazil in the last eight if they win their group

If England go on to win that last-16 game, they will face the winner the last-16 tie between Group E winners Brazil and Group F runners-up Mexico in the quarter-finals.

Also See:

Negotiate that, and England will face one of France, Argentina, Uruguay or Portugal in the semi-finals, with France and Argentina playing each other in the last-16 in Kazan on Saturday and Uruguay and Portugal going head-to-head in Sochi on the same day.

If England win their semi-final having finished as Group G winners, then their possible opponents in the final will be Spain, Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland and Colombia.

A possible route to the final if England win Group G

  • Last-16: Japan
  • Quarter-final: Brazil
  • Semi-final: France
  • Final: Spain

If they come second in Group G

Finishing runners-up in Group G would mean a last-16 tie against Group H winners Colombia, who beat Senegal 1-0 in their final group game on Thursday to finish with six points from their three games.

If England win that, they will face the winners of the last-16 meeting between Group F winners Sweden and Group E runners-up Switzerland - a far kinder prospect than a potential last-eight meeting with Brazil.

Isco put Spain back on level terms against Morocco
Image: England could come up against Spain in the semis

Beat Sweden or Switzerland, and their possible semi-final opponents would be Spain, Russia, Croatia or Denmark. At that point, those four sides will be narrowed down from Sunday's last-16 ties (Spain v Russia and Croatia v Denmark).

Reach the final from there, and England will face whoever has emerged from the other side of the draw, which could be any side from France, Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium and Japan.

A possible route to the final if England finish second in Group G

  • Last-16: Colombia
  • Quarter-final: Switzerland
  • Semi-final: Spain
  • Final: Brazil

Comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.

Fantasy Six-a-Side
Fantasy Six-a-Side

Pick your dream team for England v Belgium to win the guaranteed £1k jackpot.

Around Sky