World Cup 2026: How does qualifying for the knockout stages work?

Goal difference, which has been FIFA’s preferred tiebreaker since the 1970s, is now superseded by head-to-head results, a method long favored by UEFA.

Traditionalists may be disappointed, but those in favor say that even head-to-head between teams is a fair comparison compared to goal difference, which is often skewed by beatings to weaker sides.

If a team is tied on points with another team but beats them in the group stage, the winners will move up the table. So far, so simple.

Where multiple teams are tied on points, a mini-league is formed, pitting the results against the remaining teams. These tied teams are ranked against each other by points won in games played, then by goal difference, then goals scored.

If that doesn’t split them, the next criteria is goal difference then goals scored – group overall. Still level? FIFA’s interestingly named Team Conduct Score (TCS) comes into play.

In what might generally be referred to as the team’s fair play or disciplinary record, each country started the tournament at zero and points were deducted for any cards shown to players or – coaching staff beware – team officials, as follows:

The closer to zero, the better the score. South Africa, for example, have the worst TCS so far in the tournament, sitting at -12 after receiving two straight red cards and four yellows. At this stage, 14 teams are empty.

If, somehow, the teams are still tied, the winner will be whoever had the higher FIFA ranking in the update published in June.