How World Cup 2026 group ties will be settled | OneFootball

FIFA has set out how teams level on points after the 2026 World Cup group stage, which begins on Thursday, will be separated. If deadlock remains, the FIFA ranking will decide, a call that could cost some nations a last 32 place.

According to L'Équipe, with more teams involved and the best third-placed sides also progressing, ties are likely as each nation plays three matches.

Head to head takes precedence. First comes the most points in matches between the teams concerned, then head-to-head goal difference, followed by head-to-head goals scored.

If still level, overall goal difference is applied, then overall goals scored.

Next is fair play. The tally is calculated as minus 1 point for a yellow card, minus 3 for a second booking leading to a red, minus 4 for a straight red and minus 5 for a yellow followed by a direct dismissal. The team with the highest fair play total ranks higher.

Should these six steps fail to split teams, the FIFA ranking is used. If that too is identical, the previous ranking is consulted, and so on until a difference emerges.

Source: L'Équipe