There has been a subtle change in the way FIFA is determining league tables for the 2026 World Cup, and it might have a huge impact on the final group matches.
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For the first time at a World Cup, FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of group goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points.
Haiti and Turkey have already gone out of the tournament because of the change. Both sides are only three points behind the third-placed teams in their respective groups but are now unable to catch them because they were beaten by them.
And the change is already being felt, with Haiti and Turkey both going out of the World Cup despite only being three points behind the team in third, because they have both lost to that team.
Until 1966, goal ratio was used to separate teams; this involved dividing a team’s goals scored by goals conceded. In 1970, FIFA moved to goal difference until now.
It brings FIFA in line with UEFA, which has always given priority to the results between teams.
The logic is that assessing the direct performance of two teams is fairer because it removes freak results, such as Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao.
Others say that taking overall goal difference is better, as that compares the total record in the group.
FIFA first introduced it at last year’s Club World Cup, where Flamengo won Group D ahead of eventual tournament winners Chelsea after two matches.
Here’s how it changes things at this World Cup.
The main knock-on effect is a greater chance of teams not only advancing but winning the group before matchday three.
Under the old format, a team would need to be four points clear of second to lock top spot after two games.
That was rare because it required the other two fixtures of the first two rounds in the group to both be draws.
Now it is possible to be three points clear and get first place in the bag.
It can happen a few ways.
It requires either two draws or first place to have beaten the team(s) by three points.
Mexico won their first two games and sit on six points, three points clear of South Korea, with the Czech Republic and South Africa on one point each.
As Mexico have already beaten South Korea they cannot be overtaken if both countries end on six points. So Mexico have won the group.
They know they will play a last-32 tie in Mexico City against a third-placed team.
But there’s a knock-on effect.
Mexico effectively have nothing to play for when they meet the Czech Republic next Wednesday and could opt to rest players.
And that creates an imbalance the Czech Republic could benefit from, though they can only qualify automatically if South Korea lose to South Africa.
But in a tournament where the best third-placed teams go through, it could be important.
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The system is also used at the European Championship, where the best third-placed teams advanced.
Source: BBC
