Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
| Group | Winners | Runners-up | Third-placed teams (Best four qualify) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |  Italy |  Czechoslovakia | — |
| B |  Cameroon |  Romania |  Argentina |
| C |  Brazil |  Costa Rica | — |
| D |  West Germany |  Yugoslavia |  Colombia |
| E |  Spain |  Belgium |  Uruguay |
| F |  England |  Republic of Ireland |  Netherlands |
Based on group results, the matches would be the following in Round of 16:
| Round of 16 | Teams per qualified group positions | Teams identified |
|---|---|---|
| Match 1: | C1 – A3/B3/F3 | Brazil – Argentina |
| Match 2: | E1 – D2 | Spain – Yugoslavia |
| Match 3: | B2 – F2 | Romania – Ireland |
| Match 4: | A1 – C3/D3/E3 | Italy – Uruguay |
| Match 5: | A2 – C2 | Czechoslovakia – Costa Rica |
| Match 6: | D1 – B3/E3/F3 | West Germany – Netherlands |
| Match 7: | B1 – A3/C3/D3 | Cameroon – Colombia |
| Match 8: | F1 – E2 | England – Belgium |
The pairings for matches 1, 4, 6 and 7 depend on who the best third places are that qualify for the round of 16. The following table published in Section 28 of the tournament regulations, shows the different options to define the opponents for the winners of groups A, B, C and D.
Combination according to the four qualified teams
| Third teams qualify from groups: | Italy (A1) plays vs.: | Cameroon (B1) plays vs.: | Brazil (C1) plays vs.: | West Germany (D1) plays vs.: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A B C D | C3 | D3 | A3 | B3 |
| A B C E | C3 | A3 | B3 | E3 |
| A B C F | C3 | A3 | B3 | F3 |
| A B D E | D3 | A3 | B3 | E3 |
| A B D F | D3 | A3 | B3 | F3 |
| A B E F | E3 | A3 | B3 | F3 |
| A C D E | C3 | D3 | A3 | E3 |
| A C D F | C3 | D3 | A3 | F3 |
| A C E F | C3 | A3 | F3 | E3 |
| A D E F | D3 | A3 | F3 | E3 |
| B C D E | C3 | D3 | B3 | E3 |
| B C D F | C3 | D3 | B3 | F3 |
| B C E F | E3 | C3 | B3 | F3 |
| B D E F | E3 | D3 | B3 | F3 |
| C D E F | C3 | D3 | F3 | E3 |
