Seoul: With one matchday remaining in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, South Korea is holding onto the last spot available to advance to the knockout phase. South Korea sits eighth among the 12 third-place teams after the completion of play in Groups G, H, and I across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The team is now vying for one of the three remaining tickets to the knockout stage. According to Yonhap News Agency, with the tournament now expanded to include 48 teams, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place teams, will progress to the knockout round. The group stage is set to conclude Saturday with matches for teams in Groups J, K, and L. The primary tiebreaker among third-place nations is goal difference, followed by goals scored. South Korea finished third in Group A with three points, following a win against Czechia and losses to Mexico and South Africa. Starting Friday in sixth place among third-place teams, South Korea dropped to eighth after Sen egal defeated Iraq 5-0, moving into fifth place with a goal difference of +2. Senegal, alongside Sweden, Ecuador, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Paraguay, have already secured their spots in the round of 32. South Korea benefitted from Spain's 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Group H, which prevented Uruguay from surpassing them. In Group G, Egypt and Iran drew 1-1, while Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1. Belgium topped the group, while Egypt secured second place on goal difference. Iran, with a zero goal difference, placed sixth among third-place teams. Croatia and Algeria, both with three points, will conclude their group play Saturday. Croatia, with a goal difference of -1, leads South Korea due to more goals scored. Algeria follows with a -2 goal difference. Other contenders include DR Congo, currently third in Group K with one point. A victory over Uzbekistan in their final match could see them surpass South Korea. The South Korean squad has returned to their base camp in Zapopan near Guadalajara for rest. Sh ould they advance to the round of 32, they will face Belgium, the Group G winner, in a match scheduled for Seattle Stadium in Seattle at 1 p.m. Wednesday.