2022 World Cup group tiebreakers: What occurs when groups are degree on factors
The group stage on the 2022 World Cup is in full swing, as 16 groups look to win a spot within the knockout bracket.
– World Cup 2022: Information and options | Schedule | Squads
The highest two in every group will qualify for the spherical of 16, however how are the groups separated within the desk? That is the way it works.
1. Group factors
That is the simple one. Groups are first ordered by complete factors from their three matches. It is 3 factors for a win, 1 factors for a draw and nil for a defeat.
2. Group aim distinction
In contrast to in UEFA competitions just like the Champions League, head-to-head document is not the following tiebreaker. It is simply fundamental group aim distinction — the web complete of targets scored minus targets conceded.
3. Group targets scored
If aim distinction is similar, the group with essentially the most targets scored within the group stage shall be ranked highest.
That is the place it begins to get a bit of extra sophisticated.
4. Head-to-head document
If groups have an similar group document for factors, aim distinction and targets scored, we transfer on to face to face to separate them.
If two groups similar
That is easy, as you take a look at the results of that one group sport. Did one among two groups win that match? In that case, they are going to be ranked highest. If it was a draw, we transfer immediately on to level 5 to separate them.
If three groups similar
That is extra sophisticated, as you’ll be able to’t simply use particular person outcomes as a result of there’s three matches to have in mind. Successfully, you create a mini-league of simply the three video games involving the three nations.
This mini league is ranked by
4a) factors
4b) aim distinction
4c) targets scored
If solely two groups are nonetheless degree on the finish of this stage, direct head-to-head is not utilized and these two groups alone transfer to level 5. The third group is now locked in place.
If all three groups are nonetheless degree, the order is set by level 5.
If all 4 groups similar
It will not be doable to separate them on face to face and the group could be selected level 5.
5. Honest play document
If any groups nonetheless have an similar document after the head-to-head stage, positions are determined by honest play document.
– yellow card: minus 1 level
– oblique purple card: minus 3 factors
– direct purple card: minus 4 factors
– yellow card and direct purple card: minus 5 factors
Solely one of many above deductions is utilized to a participant in a single match.
The group with essentially the most factors is ranked highest.
The one time honest play document has been wanted to separate groups got here on the 2018 World Cup.
– Japan and Senegal have been degree in second with 4 factors
– Each had a aim distinction of zero
– Each had scored 4 targets
– So it got here to honest play, with Japan on -4, Senegal on -6.
6. Drawing of tons
If it is nonetheless degree after honest play factors are tallied, the one step left is drawing of tons.
Principally, it is a random draw made by a member of the World Cup organising committee who is not from one of many international locations. It might be a public draw, with two balls positioned right into a pot. The primary group drawn out would be the highest ranked.
This was wanted on the 1990 World Cup, with honest play not launched as a tiebreaker till after the 2014 version.
Republic of Eire (2nd) and Netherlands (third) completed with similar data and a draw was wanted to determine group place — although each international locations had certified for the spherical of 16.
Drawing of tons might happen for any of the important thing positions, together with who finishes first and second to find out the trail of the knockout bracket.