What occurs if factors stage

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.

– Situations: What each workforce must get via the group stage

1. Group factors

That is the straightforward one. Groups are first ordered by whole factors from their three matches. It is 3 factors for a win, 1 factors for a draw and 0 for a defeat.

2. Group aim distinction

Not like in UEFA competitions just like the Champions League, head-to-head report is not the subsequent tiebreaker. It is simply fundamental group aim distinction — the web whole of objectives scored minus objectives conceded.

3. Group objectives scored

If aim distinction is identical, the workforce with essentially the most objectives scored within the group stage can be ranked highest.

That is the place it begins to get a little bit extra difficult.

4. Head-to-head report

If groups have an similar group report for factors, aim distinction and objectives 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 in all two groups win that match? If that’s the 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 difficult, as you may’t simply use particular person outcomes as a result of there’s three matches to take into consideration. 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) objectives scored

If solely two groups are nonetheless stage on the finish of this stage, direct head-to-head is not utilized and these two groups alone transfer to level 5. The third workforce is now locked in place.

If all three groups are nonetheless stage, the order is determined by level 5.

If all 4 groups similar

It will not be potential to separate them on face to face and the group can be selected level 5.

5. Honest play report

If any groups nonetheless have an similar report after the head-to-head stage, positions are determined by truthful play report.

– yellow card: minus 1 level
– oblique pink card: minus 3 factors
– direct pink card: minus 4 factors
– yellow card and direct pink card: minus 5 factors

Solely one of many above deductions is utilized to a participant in a single match.

The workforce with essentially the most factors is ranked highest.

The one time truthful play report has been wanted to separate groups got here on the 2018 World Cup.

– Japan and Senegal have been stage in second with 4 factors
– Each had a aim distinction of zero
– Each had scored 4 objectives
– So it got here to truthful play, with Japan on -4, Senegal on -6.

6. Drawing of heaps

If it is nonetheless stage after truthful play factors are tallied, the one step left is drawing of heaps.

Principally, this can be a random draw made by a member of the World Cup organising committee who is not from one of many international locations. It could be a public draw, with two balls positioned right into a pot. The primary workforce drawn out would be the highest ranked.

This was wanted on the 1990 World Cup, with truthful 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 resolve group place — although each international locations had certified for the spherical of 16.

Drawing of heaps may happen for any of the important thing positions, together with who finishes first and second to find out the trail of the knockout bracket.