Portugal (group winner) and South Korea (group runner-up) were the two teams to advance from Group H into the 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 where they will cross paths with the teams that advance from Group G.
The Koreans needed a stoppage-time goal on the final day from Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan to beat Portugal and move into second place. They were level with Uruguay on four points, but the Asian side advanced ahead of La Celeste on the goals scored tiebreaker (4 goals vs. 2 goals for Uruguay).
It was a cruel elimination for a squad led by veteran forward Luis Suarez, who was in tears following the match. They managed to win on the final day against Ghana 2-0, but they could've used a few more goals as things shook out.
Uruguay were unhappy not to have been given a late penalty for an alleged foul in the Ghana box suffered by Edinson Cavani, and they already had gripes about a penalty kick they feel was gifted to Portugal in the second matchday for a hand ball that according to the Laws of the Game should not have been deemed an infraction.
WORLD CUP GROUPS:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D
Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H
World Cup Group H final table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Portugal-Q | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 |
| 2. S. Korea-Q | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 3. Uruguay-E | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 4. Ghana-E | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | -2 |
- Q = Qualified to Round of 16
- E = Eliminated
NOTE: South Korea claim goals scored tiebreaker (second tiebreaker) over Uruguay
Group H schedule, results
| Date | Match | |
| Thu, Nov. 24 | Uruguay 0, S. Korea 0 | Highlights |
| Thu, Nov. 24 | Portugal 3, Ghana 2 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | S. Korea 2, Ghana 3 | Highlights |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Portugal 2, Uruguay 0 | Highlights |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | S. Korea 2, Portugal 1 | Highlights |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Ghana 0, Uruguay 2 | Highlights |
The four teams selected into the group played a round-robin format with each nation facing the other three. Group standings are based on points from those three group-stage matches — three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss.
The top two teams from each group based on total points advance to the single-game knockouts. If teams are tied on points, goal difference is the first tiebreaker followed by goals scored. If teams are also tied in those categories another set of tiebreakers is applied.
World Cup Group H teams
Portugal
Portugal, as expected, managed to qualify for Qatar 2022 through the playoff path, defeating North Macedonia to ensure an appearance at the finals for the eighth time. Despite being regular competitors on this stage, though, they have yet to win it.
In all likelihood, this will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance at the World Cup. All eyes will be on the 37-year-old talisman and he will be the key player in Qatar — desperate to add a first team world crown to his already bursting trophy cabinet. Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes will also be pivotal for the Euro 2016 winners.
For all their attacking talent, defensively is where Portugal have been most convincing, having conceded just seven times in qualifying.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 9 (November, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 7th (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 7 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: UEFA playoff winners: (2-0 vs. North Macedonia)
- Coach: Fernando Santos (Portugal) since September, 2014
- Key players: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United / England), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United / England), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City / England)
Ghana
Ghana will be present in Qatar following a valiant effort in the qualifying rounds, cementing a place in the tournament for the first time since 2014 by beating Nigeria on away goals in the African playoffs. The Black Stars went so close to reaching the semifinals of the World Cup in 2010, losing on penalties to Uruguay in the last eight.
Despite not having as many household names in the current squad compared to the 2010 and 2014 editions, players such as Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and young Ajax talent Mohammed Kudus will both be stars to keep an eye on as the tournament gets underway.
Grit and determination are two qualities that are instilled into the fabric of this Ghana side, who lost just two of their 10 fixtures in 2021, but a poor Africa Cup of Nations campaign — in which they exited at the group stage without a win — means there is a point to prove back on the major stage.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 61 (November, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 11th (CAF)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 4 (Brazil 2014)
- How qualified: CAF Third Round winners: (agg 1-1 vs. Nigeria, Ghana win on away goals)
- Coach: Otto Addo (Germany) since January 2022 — interim
- Key players: Thomas Partey (Arsenal / England), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax / Netherlands), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace / England)
Uruguay
Although Uruguay’s squad is a talented one, recent times have been inconsistent for La Celeste, who were eliminated at the quarterfinals of the Copa America last year having hoped for much more.
Uruguay also got to the last eight at the 2018 World Cup, where eventual winners France edged them out.
The South Americans do consistently produce players capable of individual brilliance, and that will be no different in Qatar. Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and veterans Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez are at opposite ends of their careers, but all are more than able to pose a major threat in front of goal.
How to balance them remains the question, along with the fitness of talismanic defender Diego Godin, whose injury problems ruled him out of the September friendlies.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 14 (November, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 3rd (CONMEBOL)
- World Cup titles: 2
- World Cup appearances (last): 14 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: (CONMEBOL third place: 8W-6L-4D)
- Coach: Diego Alonso (Uruguay) since December, 2021
- Key players: Darwin Nunez (Liverpool/ England), Luis Suarez (Nacional / Uruguay), Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield / Argentina)
South Korea
Not since 1982 have South Korea failed to appear at a World Cup and that streak will continue with Paulo Bento’s team competing in Qatar.
South Korea finished second in a tough third-round qualification group, beaten only in the final fixture with a place at the finals already assured. Prior to that, Bento’s side went on a seven-match winning run, and they will be hoping for similar momentum at the World Cup, where they will be looking to make it out of the group stage for the first time since 2010.
Son Heung-min is South Korea’s most obvious difference-maker, with the Tottenham forward a prolific goalscorer for club and country. Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan is also an important figure for the Tigers of Asia. South Korea’s best World Cup performance saw them reach the semifinals on home soil in 2002 — can they match that result in the Middle East?
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 28 (November, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 3rd (AFC)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 10 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: AFC Third Round Group A runners-up 7W-L1-D2
- Coach: Paulo Bento (Portugal) since August, 2018
- Key players: Son Heung-min (Tottenham / England), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves / England), Kim Min-jae (Napoli / Italy)
World Cup Group H odds and predictions
Here are the odds for each team to win and qualify from the group, with odds provided by Sports Interaction (correct as of November, 2022).
Minus odds is what must be wagered to win $100 on that specific bet, while plus odds represent the winnings from a successful $100 wager.
The first-place and second-place finishers in Group H will move on to the Round of 16 and will face off against the two teams to advance from Group G on Monday, Dec. 5, and Tuesday, Dec. 6.
| Team | Group Winner | To Qualify |
| Portugal | -149 | -588 |
| Uruguay | +203 | -196 |
| South Korea | +800 | +228 |
| Ghana | +1300 | +229 |
MORE WORLD CUP 2022:
Full Qatar 2022 schedule | Latest news
The official FIFA 2022 World Cup match schedule outlines the following knockout pairings for the Round of 16 through to the final:
World Cup Round of 16
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Sat, Dec. 3 | 1A vs. 2B | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
| Sat, Dec. 3 | 1C vs. 2D | 2 p.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali |
| Sun, Dec. 4 | 1D vs. 2C | 10 a.m. | Al Thumama |
| Sun, Dec. 4 | 1B vs. 2A | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
| Mon, Dec. 5 | 1E vs. 2F | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub |
| Mon, Dec. 5 | 1G vs. 2H | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Tues, Dec. 6 | 1F vs. 2E | 10 a.m. | Education City |
| Tues, Dec. 6 | 1H vs. 2G | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
World Cup Quarterfinals
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Fri, Dec. 9 | QF1: 1E/2F vs. 1G/2H | 10 a.m. | Education City |
| Fri, Dec. 9 | QF2: 1A/2B vs. 1C/2D | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
| Sat, Dec. 10 | QF3: 1F/2E vs. 1H/2G | 10 a.m. | Al Thumama |
| Sat, Dec. 10 | QF4: 1B/2A vs. 1D/2C | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
World Cup Semifinals
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Tues, Dec. 13 | QF2 vs. QF1 | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
| Wed, Dec. 14 | QF4 vs. QF3 | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
World Cup 3rd Place
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Sat, Dec. 17 | Semifinal losers | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
World Cup Final
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Sun, Dec. 18 | Semifinal winners | 10 a.m. | Lusail |