In the new World Cup mode, the direct comparison applies based on the goal difference – and the eight best third-place teams in the group advance. There will be lots of math games at the end of the group phase.
The group phase at a glance:
- There are twelve groups with four teams each.
- The two teams that take the top two places in a group advance to the round of 16.
- In addition, the eight best third-placed teams advance.
Which third group will advance?
Because 48 teams are playing, the best eight of the twelve third-placed teams must also be selected as participants in the round of 16. For this purpose, a separate table of the twelve third-placed teams will be created. The current status:
| Pl. | team | Sp. | TV | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scotland | 2 | 1:1 | 3 |
2 | Paraguay | 2 | 2:4 | 3 |
3 | Japan | 1 | 2:2 | 1 |
4 | Belgium | 1 | 1:1 | 1 |
5 | Portugal | 1 | 1:1 | 1 |
6 | Spain | 1 | 0:0 | 1 |
7 | Czech Republic | 2 | 2:3 | 1 |
8 | Ecuador | 2 | 0:1 | 1 |
9 | Bosnia-H. | 2 | 2:5 | 1 |
10 | Panama | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
11 | Senegal | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
12 | Jordan | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
The ranking is determined like this:
- Points: First, the teams are sorted according to the number of points they have earned.
- Goal difference and more goals scored: As in the Bundesliga, the goal difference counts first, then the number of more goals scored.
- Fair play rating: After that, the smaller number of points applies in the fair play rating of the group games (yellow card 1 point, yellow-red card 3 points, red card 4 points, single yellow card and red card 5 points). Tickets for team officials and substitute players are also valid.
- FIFA World Ranking: If there is still a need, the FIFA world rankings will decide. If there is a tie here, previous rankings will be used until a decision is made. A draw is out of the question.
There are 495 different possibilities when it comes to the question of which eight teams are the best third-place teams in the twelve groups.
If the German team wins the group, one of the best eight third-placed teams would be their opponents. This would come from groups A, B, C, D or F. Most cases would mean an opponent from groups C or D.
| Opponent E1 | cases |
|---|---|
Third group C | 231/495 |
Third group D | 212/495 |
Third group F | 35/495 |
Third group A | 16/495 |
Third group b | 1/495 |
New approach Equal points: Direct comparison instead of goal difference
When it comes to the question of who occupies which place in a group, there is an innovation: If two or more teams are tied on points, in contrast to the tournaments of previous years, the direct comparison applies first and only then the general goal difference. This is the ranking of the criteria:
- Total points: First, the teams are sorted according to the number of points they have earned.
- Direct comparison between two teams: If two teams have the same number of points, the team that won the direct duel is ahead.
- Direct comparison between several teams: If three teams are tied on points, a separate table is created that only includes the games between these teams. Here, the more points won in the direct encounters count first, then the goal difference and then the more goals scored. If two teams remain level, there will be another two-way comparison.
- Goal difference and more goals scored in total: If a decision is still not possible after that, when you look at the overall table, as in the Bundesliga, the goal difference applies first, then the number of more goals scored.
- Fair play rating: After that, the smaller number of points applies in the fair play rating of the group games (yellow card 1 point, yellow-red card 3 points, red card 4 points, single yellow card and red card 5 points). Tickets for team officials and substitute players are also valid.
- FIFA World Ranking: If there is still a need, the FIFA world rankings will decide. If there is a tie here, previous rankings will be used until a decision is made. A draw is out of the question.
The tournament tree of the 2026 World Cup
Knockout round: Many special features in the penalty shootout
From the round of 16 onwards, if there is no winner after 90 minutes, the game will be extended by two 15-minute periods. A penalty shootout then follows if necessary.
Similar questions are often asked about penalty shootouts, here are some answers:
- The referee determines the goal to be shot at by tossing a coin – unless the condition of the pitch or safety concerns speak against one of the two goals.
- The captain who wins another coin toss gets to choose whether his team starts or follows up.
- The team tells the referee its five shooters, but not the order. If there is no winner after five shooters, the game continues with one shooter at a time until a decision is made.
- Only players who are on the pitch when the final whistle blows are allowed to take part in the penalty shootout. After eleven (or fewer) shooters per team, the game may start again.
- If a team has the majority before the penalty shootout, it must eliminate a corresponding number of players so that both teams have the same number of players. Background: A team that has been sent off might otherwise have an advantage because their supposedly safe shooters would have their turn earlier.
Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (from left) saves Virgil van Dijk’s penalty
- Substitutions are not possible during the penalty shootout.
- The exception: If a goalkeeper is injured before or during the penalty shootout, he may be substituted if the contingent has not yet been exhausted. Otherwise a field player has to go into the goal.
- A player may only shoot a second time once all players have taken a penalty. The order does not have to be the same as the first round.
- Yellow cards are not carried over to penalties within a game. Anyone who receives another yellow card in the penalty shootout does not receive the yellow-red card and can take their penalty. The player then has two yellow cards on his record.
In rule 10.3 of the official rules of the game from the IFAB The exact process of a penalty shootout is explained.