What tiebreakers are used in the Qatar World Cup 2022 group stage?

Take a look at how teams are separated at the 2022 World Cup if they finish level on points in the group stage.

Matthew Ashton - AMA

British journalist and translator who joined Diario AS in 2013. Focuses on soccer – chiefly the Premier League, LaLiga, the Champions League, the Liga MX and MLS. On occasion, also covers American sports, general news and entertainment. Fascinated by the language of sport – particularly the under-appreciated art of translating cliché-speak.

Update: Nov 26th, 2022 05:08 EST

World Cup 2022: group-stage tiebreakers

According to FIFA regulations, the following tiebreakers will be used at World Cup 2022, in descending order of priority, if two or more countries are level on points at the end of the group stage in Qatar:

Overall group record

1. Goal difference in all group matches.

2. Goals scored in all group matches.

Head-to-head record

3. Number of points won in matches played between the teams level on points.

4. Goal difference in matches played between the teams level on points.

5. Goals scored in matches played between the teams level on points.

Fair play

6. Highest “team conduct score” in the group stage.

Teams’ fair-play score is calculated by deducting one point for every yellow card; two points for every red card resulting from two bookings; four points for every straight red card; and five points for every yellow card and straight red card.