COPA AMÉRICA 2024
Copa América 2024: what happens if there is a tie in the group stage? Tie-breaking criteria
The 16 participants in the United States are fighting it out in the group stage to claim the eight quarterfinal spots.
There are 16 teams competing in the Copa América 2024 for just the second time in the tournament’s history, after the 2016 centenary edition, which was also held in the United States. Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Vinícius Júnior’s Brazil are joined this year by the USMNT, Mexico and some of CONCACAF’s other leading teams, making the tournament format much smoother than in recent years, when it has normally had 12 participants.
How does the group stage work in the Copa América 2024?
That applies particularly to the group stage, with the 16 countries divided into four groups of four teams and the winners and runners-up from each group qualifying for the knockout rounds, which begin with the quarterfinals. Unlike Euro 2024, which 24 nations qualified for, there is no reward for finishing third in a four-team group.
Copa América 2024 tie-breaker rules
With each team playing only three matches in the group stage, there is clearly a chance some could end up level on points with others in their section at the end of those fixtures. A tie-breaker is therefore required, and could be the difference between teams finishing second and going through, and ending up third and going home.
Again unlike Euro 2024, head-to-head record is not the main tie-breaker at the end of the group stage in the Copa América 2024.
Instead, overall goal difference in the three group games is the first criteria used to separate teams who have collected the same number of points, which could lead to plenty of excitement on matchday three.
If two teams in question are also level on goal difference, the one that scored the most goals will finish higher in the standings, with head-to-head only the third tie-breaker.
The full list of tie-breakers, in order, is:
- Points obtained in all group matches
- Goal difference in all group matches
- Number of goals scored in all group matches
- Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question
- Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question
- Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question
- Fewest red cards
- Fewest yellow cards
- Drawing of lots
More and more competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, have started using head-to-head record as the first tie-breaker. The argument in favour of that system is that the team that has proved themselves to be ‘superior’ is seen to come out on top. The downside is that potential drama is lost, with goal difference taken out of the equation and final-game permutations limited as a result.