Out of the 32 groups, three have certified for the Spherical of 16, two have been eradicated whereas the remaining 27 are nonetheless in rivalry. As the ultimate spherical of group-stage matches will get underway afterward Tuesday, there might be a situation the place two or extra groups end degree on factors. In such a situation, FIFA’s guidelines are properly laid out.
In keeping with the governing physique’s tips for the World Cup, there are numerous standards to find out which staff will progress into the knockout rounds.
1. Factors: The primary manner is the staff with the very best variety of factors. Every nation will get three factors for a win, one level for a draw and 0 factors for a defeat. Within the occasion of two or extra groups finish the group stage with the identical factors, then the authorities will have a look at the second rule, which is the objective distinction.
2. Objective distinction: If the groups are degree on factors, the one with a superior objective distinction – the full of objectives scored minus objectives conceded – will undergo. The final staff to face the results was Portugal in 2014 after they completed behind the US for second place of their group.
If nothing separates the groups after guidelines 1 and a pair of, the third criterion might be checked out.
3. Targets scored: This rule was most famously enforced in 1982, when Italy and Cameroon had been locked on factors and objective distinction, however the European facet superior as a result of they’d scored yet one more objective. Italy went on to win that World Cup. One other memorable occasion was in 1994, when Mexico, Eire, Italy and Norway completed with the identical variety of factors (4 every) and objective distinction (0). Mexico received that group as a result of they scored extra objectives (3) than the remainder.
4. Head-to-head: If the groups are tied after the primary three guidelines, the following step might be to take a look at the factors whole within the head-to-head matches between the groups concerned. Three issues are checked out right here (on this order): factors received in head-to-head matches, objective distinction and objectives scored. The staff with a superior file will advance.
5. Honest play file: If the groups nonetheless can’t be separated, then the truthful play file is checked out. Every staff is given a ‘conduct rating’, whereby a degree is deducted for every yellow card they obtain, two factors for a pink card acquired after two bookings and 4 factors for a straight pink. The staff with a decrease rating progresses into the knockout spherical. On the 2018 World Cup, Japan edged out Senegal primarily based on this rule. The 2 groups couldn’t be separated on any of the above standards. Japan’s truthful play rating of -4 was higher than Senegal’s, who tallied -6.
6. Draw of tons: The final option to decide who progresses is by luck of the draw. No staff has been axed from the World Cup by this methodology up to now.