Soccer World Cup permutations: Groups E and F

Toni Kroos (AP)

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Cape Town - Ten teams have already qualified for the Round of 16, leaving six remaining spots up for grabs.

Here's what teams in Group E and Group F need to do to keep their 2018 Soccer World Cup hopes alive.

QUIZ: Can you name all the semi-finalists in all the previous Soccer World Cups?

GROUP E

- Brazil and Switzerland have four points apiece, Serbia has three, and any of them could grab one of the group’s two spots in the knockout stage.

- A draw for Brazil against Serbia will be enough for a place in the knockout stage.

- If both Brazil and Switzerland win then the group winner could be decided by disciplinary records: Brazil have three yellows, Switzerland four. If they both lose then it will be the second and third places potentially decided by the same process.

- The Swiss will qualify with a draw against Costa Rica, or if Serbia lose to Brazil.

- If Switzerland lose by one goal and Serbia draw, second place will be decided by goals scored. If the sides finish with identical records then Switzerland would go through because they beat Serbia.

- Serbia will qualify if they defeat Brazil. A draw would be enough if Switzerland lose to Costa Rica by more than one goal.

Remaining fixtures on Wednesday:

Switzerland v Costa Rica - 20:00

Serbia v Brazil - 20:00

GROUP F

- Mexico lead with six points but are not safe yet. With Germany and Sweden both on three points. South Korea are on zero points.

- Mexico need only a point against Sweden to qualify and finish top. They will go through, irrespective of their own result, if Germany fail to beat South Korea.

- Sweden are guaranteed to qualify if they better Germany's result. They will top the group if they beat Mexico and better Germany's result.

- Germany will qualify if they win by two or more clear goals.

- If both Germany and Sweden draw their games, then the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If the matches finish with the same score, then Germany will finish second because they beat Sweden.

- South Korea can qualify if they beat Germany and Sweden lose, and finish with a better goal difference than those two teams.

Remaining fixtures on Wednesday:

South Korea v Germany - 16:00

Mexico v Sweden - 16:00

FIFA's Soccer World Cup group ranking rules:

1. Best goal differential

2. Most goals scored

3. Points from head-to-head games between the teams involved

4. If more than two teams are tied, best goal differential from matches between the teams involved

5. Most goals scored in all matches between the teams concerned

6. Fewest points deducted based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches, as follows: a 1-point deduction for a yellow card, a 3-point deduction for a red card issued as a result of a second yellow, a 4-point deduction for a straight red, and a 5-point deduction for a straight red issued after a yellow card

7. Drawing of lots by FIFA