FIFA has established several criteria to break ties between national teams with the same number of points at the end of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, which begins on Thursday. Should the tie persist, the FIFA rankings will be the deciding factor – and could therefore cost some teams a place in the round of 32.

More teams competing, but also more qualifying after the group stage. For the 2026 World Cup, in addition to the top two qualifying spots in each group, the best third-placed teams will also advance to the round of 32. With only three matches to play, ties in the standings are inevitable. Here's how teams with the same number of points will be separated, with priority given to head-to-head results.

1. The highest number of points obtained in matches between the teams concerned

2. The best goal difference in matches between the teams concerned

3. The highest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned

4. Best overall goal difference

5. The highest number of goals scored

6. The highest number of fair play points, calculated based on yellow and red cards received, according to the following scale: -1 point for a yellow card, -3 points for a second warning leading to a red card, -4 points for a direct red card, -5 points for a yellow card followed by a direct expulsion. The team with the highest total number of points is ranked first.

If these six criteria are still insufficient to separate the teams, the FIFA ranking will serve as the deciding factor. And if, by some extraordinary circumstance, two nations are also tied in this ranking, the previous FIFA ranking will be consulted – and so on, until a difference is found.

This is a significant change from the 2022 World Cup, where overall goal difference was the primary tiebreaker. The draw, which could be used in case of a tie across the first six criteria, has been eliminated in favor of the FIFA rankings.

 

With L'Equipe.fr