Can Ghana still qualify for World Cup knockout stages? Group H scenarios for Black Stars in Qatar 2022

Ghana's chances of a 2022 FIFA World Cup last-16 spot will depend on their final Group H match against winless Uruguay on Friday, December 2.

The Black Stars lost in dramatic style to Portugal 3-2 in their opening game, then were involved in another five-goal blockbuster as they recovered to balance their goal difference with a 3-2 victory after at one point being pegged back by South Korea.

That leaves the group finely poised as Ghana bid to make the knockout stage for the third time in four appearances at the finals.

As they prepare for a decider against the two-time champions, here are the permutations for Otto Addo and his players.

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Can Ghana still qualify?

Ghana are in position to qualify after two games, standing three points behind leaders Portugal and two points above Uruguay and South Korea in a tight group that will go down to the final day.

They could finish in any of the four places in the group, depending on their result and those of their rivals.

What happens if Ghana win?

Ghana are guaranteed a place in the Round of 16 if they beat Uruguay, irrespective of the other results in the group.

They will top the group if they triumph, Portugal lose and there is more than a one-goal difference in the margin between their win and the Selecao's defeat.

If they win, Portugal lose and there is only a one-goal difference between the margin of the results, they will finish first if they score more goals on the night than the team captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.

MORE: FIFA World Cup schedule 2022: Complete match dates, times, fixtures

What happens if Ghana draw?

A draw will be enough as long as South Korea do not claim their first win of the group stage against a Portugal side who are guaranteed to qualify.

If South Korea earn a surprise victory, goal difference will come into play: South Korea will overtake Ghana if they win by more than one goal or, if they win by only one goal, do not score more than three times.

Should South Korea win exactly 3-2, qualification would come down to the head-to-head record between Ghana and South Korea – sending Addo's side through because of their win when the teams met.

What happens if Ghana lose?

Ghana cannot reach the knockout stage with defeat against Uruguay. Diego Alonso's side would overtake them with a win and would only be denied qualification in second place if South Korea beat Portugal.

After Portugal's win over Uruguay, Opta projected Ghana's chances of reaching the Round of 16 at 45.1 percent. Uruguay were rated 46.2 percent, with Portugal 100 percent and South Korea 8.8 percent.

World Cup Group H table and results

Here is how Group H looks after Portugal beat Uruguay 2-0 in the later game in the group on November 28.

World Cup Group H table ** LIVE **

• Q = Qualified to Round of 16
• E = Eliminated

NOTE: South Korea ahead of Uruguay on goals scored tiebreaker

Group H schedule, results

Group H scenarios

Portugal

• Win or draw vs. KOR: POR advance as group winner.
• Loss vs. KOR: POR advance as group winner if GHA draw or lose. POR advance as winner or runner-up based on tiebreakers if GHA win.

Ghana

• Win vs. URU: GHA advance as group winner (on tiebreakers if POR lose) or group runner-up (if POR win or draw)
• Draw vs. URU: GHA advance as group runner-up if KOR draw or lose. GHA can advance or be eliminated based on tiebreakers if KOR win.
• Loss vs. URU: GHA eliminated.

South Korea

• Win vs. POR: Tiebreakers to determine whether KOR eliminated or advance as runner-up if URU win or URU-GHA draw. (KOR need to win by two goals to claim tiebreaker if URU-GHA draw.) KOR eliminated if GHA win. 
• Draw or loss vs. POR: KOR eliminated.

Uruguay

• Win vs. GHA: URU qualify as runner-up if KOR lose or draw. Tiebreakers determine runner-up if KOR win.
• Draw or loss vs. GHA: URU eliminated.

When do Ghana play Uruguay?

The match will take place on December 2 2022, with both of the closing games in the group being held at the same time.

World Cup Group H fixtures

Ghana's World Cup record

Ghana have qualified for four of the last five editions of the World Cup finals and are targeting a place in the knockout phase for the third time.

They were the only African team to reach that stage of the tournament on their debut in 2006, but Ronaldo's opener after five minutes set the tone as they lost 3-0 to Brazil in Dortmund.

MORE: Uruguay World Cup squad 2022: All 26 players for national team in Qatar

A win in extra time over the USA took them a step further four years later, when they were only beaten on penalties by Uruguay in Johannesburg, having taken the lead in a 1-1 draw.

The USA earned revenge in 2014 with an 86th-minute winner as Ghana lost 2-1 in their first group stage game, and their respectable campaign ended with a 2-2 draw against Germany and a 2-1 defeat to Portugal, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute.

Ghana need one more goal at the 2022 tournament to beat their record at the finals, having already matched the five they scored in 2010.

*Did not enter

**Did not qualify