Ok, Japan, let's go get that tying goal.

2022 World Cup group tiebreakers: What happens when teams are level on points (ESPN)

1. Group points
This is the easy one. Teams are first ordered by total points from their three matches. It's 3 points for a win, 1 points for a draw and zero for a defeat.

2. Group goal difference
Unlike in UEFA competitions like the Champions League, head-to-head record isn't the next tiebreaker. It's just basic group goal difference -- the net total of goals scored minus goals conceded.

3. Group goals scored
If goal difference is the same, the team with the most goals scored in the group stage will be ranked highest.

This is where it starts to get a little more complicated.

4. Head-to-head record

If teams have an identical group record for points, goal difference and goals scored, we move on to head to head to separate them.

If two teams identical

This is simple, as you look at the result of that one group game. Did one of two teams win that match? If so, they will be ranked highest. If it was a draw, we move directly on to point 5 to split them.

If three teams identical

This is more complicated, as you can't just use individual results because there's three matches to take into account. Effectively, you create a mini-league of just the three games involving the three nations.

This mini league is ranked by
4a) points
4b) goal difference
4c) goals scored

If only two teams are still level at the end of this stage, direct head-to-head is not applied and these two teams alone move to point 5. The third team is now locked in position.

If all three teams are still level, the order is decided by point 5.

If all four teams identical

It won't be possible to separate them on head to head and the group would be decided on point 5.

5. Fair play record
If any teams still have an identical record after the head-to-head stage, positions are decided by fair play record.

- yellow card: minus 1 point
- indirect red card: minus 3 points
- direct red card: minus 4 points
- yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points

Only one of the above deductions is applied to a player in one match.

The team with the most points is ranked highest.

The only time fair play record has been needed to separate teams came at the 2018 World Cup.

6. Drawing of lots
If it's still level after fair play points are tallied, the only step left is drawing of lots.

Bjornulf

I like that change that the after the points calculated the goal difference is the next criterion. I think that is more fare since it takes every game into consideration and thereby each goal had a point.

But Costa Rica made Germany feel much better I suppose... A weak performance by Japan.

- Doxa



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-11-27 14:25 by Doxa.

Yeah, Germany can actually afford to lose tonight.

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Doxa
I like that change that the after the points calculated the goal difference is the next criterion. I think that is more fare since it takes every game into consideration and thereby each goal had a point.

But Costa Rica made Germany feel much better I suppose... A weak performance by Japan.

- Doxa

That’s always what dictates positioning when teams are level on points, right? Man City have won the Premier League over Man Utd one season, as they had a better goal difference.

Go home, World Cup,you're drunk!

Belgium - Morocco final result 0 - 2

Belgium were working hard but so did Morocco. An excellent game. Sorry to all my friends from Belgium, but Morocco were simply impressive, hard working, and the two goals were both excellent, nothing less.

Bjornulf

Morocco-Belgium 2-0. 2 Great goals. Looks like the Belgium team is worn out. They should have striked 4 years ago.

That didn't do Canada any favors.

Gentlemen,

that was a very pleasant game and the third big surprise of this world cup that I like more and more !

Congratulations to Morocco who deserved to win but weak performance from Belgium.

Tonight might be a hard night for Germany against Spain.

Well there ya go, Canada! That's a start.

yes the fastest goal so far !
already 1 to 0 for Canada.

Croatia dangerously coming back against Canada. 1-1 at 36:00.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022-11-27 18:56 by TheflyingDutchman.

and now Croatia is leading 2 to 1....very intense game !

Costa Rica? There´s no easy money to make in this World Cup...No more bets for me.

Edit : Croatia - Canada 2-1 at 66 Km/H, half-time. If it goes on like this it looks like Canada against this experienced Croatia is not going to make it. We shell see.

Oh, well. I’m sure Canada could beat Croatia at ice hockey

Men vs boys out there.

At least Canada won the Davis Cup over Australia.

I have a a soft spot for Canada, having resided in Toronto for a spell. I suppose those that care should be proud they, at least, qualified for the finals. First time since ‘86.

Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

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umakmehrd
Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

yes and there will be 48 countries instead of 32 at the moment.

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Paris75014

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umakmehrd
Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

yes and there will be 48 countries instead of 32 at the moment.

48 Countries? Maybe Scotland have a chance of being there . But seriously 48 is a ridiculous number. Until Argentina 78 it was 16 teams.

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umakmehrd
Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

Yes to all.

.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-11-27 22:34 by treaclefingers.

Germany - Spain, best game I have seen in this tournament till now. . A lot of action from both sides. This is football.

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umakmehrd
Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

James Duthie on TSN is receiving a lot of criticism online for saying Davies goal was the biggest moment in Canadian soccer history! Sitting 2 seats down is Janine Beckie, who just won Olympic gold for Canada last year! Also, Christine Sinclair has scored more international goals than anyone else, male or female.
We get our asses handed to us 4-1 yet we finally score our first goal and everyone is celebrating it.

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DGA35

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umakmehrd
Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

James Duthie on TSN is receiving a lot of criticism online for saying Davies goal was the biggest moment in Canadian soccer history! Sitting 2 seats down is Janine Beckie, who just won Olympic gold for Canada last year! Also, Christine Sinclair has scored more international goals than anyone else, male or female.
We get our asses handed to us 4-1 yet we finally score our first goal and everyone is celebrating it.

Agreed.

Is there a reason why England is the only team which has already won the World Cup for which the star is almost invisible on the official shirt ?
White star on white shirt ?
Just wonderin'...

HMN

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treaclefingers

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DGA35

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umakmehrd
Yes clearly outclassed by Croatia...
But we did score our 1st world cup goal ever ! Alfonso !
great experience for 2026 I believe we are automatically qualified as a host country.

James Duthie on TSN is receiving a lot of criticism online for saying Davies goal was the biggest moment in Canadian soccer history! Sitting 2 seats down is Janine Beckie, who just won Olympic gold for Canada last year! Also, Christine Sinclair has scored more international goals than anyone else, male or female.
We get our asses handed to us 4-1 yet we finally score our first goal and everyone is celebrating it.

Agreed.

Julia Grosso, from Vancouver and now playing with Juventus, scoring the winning penalty kick to give Canada the Olympic gold medal last year is the biggest moment in Canadian soccer history! It will be until the men's team wins gold or World Cup or perhaps if the women can win the world cup next year.