Unlike some other sports, soccer can often see games end with the scores level, especially in major tournaments. So what happens next?

MATTEO CIAMBELLI

WORLD CUP 2026

What happens in the case of a tie in 2026 World Cup group stage games?

Calum Roche

Managing Editor AS USA

Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.

Update: Jun 9th, 2026 04:54 EDT

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage will feature 48 teams battling for places in the knockout rounds, but what happens if a game ends level after 90 minutes?

The short answer is that nothing extra happens.

Unlike the knockout rounds that follow, group-stage matches do not go to extra time or penalties. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time – and potentially a lot of added time given water breaks and other delays – the game simply ends as a draw.

How does scoring works in a World Cup group game?

The group stage, there are 12 of them with four nations in each, operates as a league format, with teams earning points based on their results.

Win: 3 points
Tie: 1 point
Loss: 0 points

So, a tied game gives each team one point, and no attempt is made to determine a winner. Extra time and penalty shootouts are reserved exclusively for the knockout stages.

At the end of the group stage, teams are ranked according to their points totals, with the top two sides advancing to the next round, along with the eight best third-placed countries. That’s where it gets more complicated.

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What happens if teams finish level on points?

When two or more teams end the group stage with the same number of points, FIFA applies a series of tiebreakers to determine the final standings.

For the 2026 World Cup, unlike Qatar in 2022, head-to-head results are the first factor considered.

Step one: head-to-head criteria

The following criteria are applied to the tied teams:

Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned

If these criteria separate the teams, the ranking is decided.

If the teams remain level after the head-to-head comparison, FIFA then looks at their overall performance in the group.

Step two: overall group record

The following criteria are applied:

Superior goal difference in all group matches
Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
Highest team conduct score based on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials

Disciplinary records can therefore play a role in determining which team progresses.

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What is the final tiebreaker?

If teams are still inseparable after all sporting and disciplinary criteria have been applied, FIFA will use the most recent edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.

This replaces the drawing of lots procedure that previously served as the final tiebreaker in World Cup group stages. While it is extremely rare for the process to reach that point, the regulations provide a clear method for separating teams when every other measure has failed.

Now you know, so no complaints later.