Most memorable moments at the World Cup come in the knockout rounds, when it’s win or go home. But in order to get to the knockout rounds, teams must advance through the group stage. The World Cup group stage rules and World Cup tiebreakers will help separate those teams welcomed into the playoff rounds and those going home early. World Cup Group Stage Rules Since 1998, when FIFA increased the number of teams competing from 24 to 32, the World Cup group stage rules have remained the same. The tournament starts with eight groups of four, with every group playing a round-robin schedule of three matches for each team. To prevent any shenanigans or teams having an advantage by knowing what’s at stake, groups play their final group-stage matches at the same time. During these matches, there is no extra time and matches can end in draws. Teams earn three points for a win and one point for a draw. The top two teams in each group advance to the Round of 16. Embed from Getty Images Perhaps most importantly when it comes to World Cup group stage rules are the World Cup tiebreakers. Points are the first deciding factor when determining who advances, but after that, FIFA uses the following World Cup tiebreakers. World Cup Tiebreakers In Group Stage Greatest number of points Goal difference in all group matches Goals scored in all group matches If two or more teams are still even based on the above criteria, the following World Cup tiebreakers are put into use. Greatest number of points obtained in group matches between teams concerned Goal difference resulting from group matches between teams concerned Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between teams concerned Greater number of points obtained regarding fair play conduct (yellow cards: -1, indirect red card (as a result of a second yellow card): -3, direct red card: -4, yellow card and direct red: -5) Drawing of lots by FIFA Embed from Getty Images Continuing with the World Cup group stage rules, the top two teams in each group are placed on opposite sides of the bracket. This is to prevent group opponents from facing off again unless they reach the final. The only time this wasn’t done since 1998 was in 2002, when Japan and South Korea were divided so they could play in their home country as long as they were in the tournament. Some random history on the World Cup group stage rules: In 1950 there was no knockout round of any kind, and the entire tournament was determined by group stages. In 1934 and 1938, there was no group stage, with the entire tournament a straight knockout playoff. This idea was scrapped after countries complained about traveling around the world just to be eliminated after one match. In 1954, the group stage used extra time. This was because the groups of four only played two matches each and FIFA wanted to prevent draws, which were awarded only after 120 minutes of play. The 2018 World Cup group stage ends on June 28.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section World Cup Harry Kane is the tournament's top goalscorer following his hat-trick during England's victory over Panama The final round of group matches at the 2018 World Cup has drawn to a close, and the last 16 has been finalised. But how did the teams progress - and who faces whom in the first round of the knockout stage? Group A Uruguay progress as group winners with hosts Russia through in second place. Uruguay play Portugal (the runners-up in Group B) in the last 16 while Russia play Spain (Group B winners). Group B Spain progress as group winners - on goals scored above Portugal, who are through in second place. Portugal were set to win the group until late goals in both games. Spain face hosts Russia (Group A runners-up) in the last 16, with Portugal up against Uruguay (Group A winners). Group C France are through as group winners - with Denmark through in second place following a goalless draw between the two sides in their final group game. France will play Group D runners-up Argentina, while Denmark face Croatia, the winners of Group D. Group D Croatia are through as group winners after scoring a late goal to beat Iceland and maintain their 100% record - they will face Group C runners-up Denmark. Argentina are through as runners-up after defeating Nigeria 2-1 and will play Group C winners France. Group E Brazil qualify as winners with two wins from three and will play Group F runners-up Mexico in the next round. Switzerland take the runners-up spot and will face Group F winners Sweden. Group F Sweden qualify as group winners following a dramatic victory over runners-up Mexico in their final game. The Swedes will face Group E runners-up Switzerland in the next round, while Mexico face five-time champions Brazil. Group G Belgium qualify as group winners following victory over runners-up England in their final game. Belgium will face Group H runners-up Japan in the next round, while England meet Colombia. Group H<doc-sep>With so much at stake, it is not surprising to see such a keenly competitive tournament, but what happens when teams are level on points? The group stage of the 2018 World Cup is coming to a close and we will soon know the identity of the teams that will be competing in the last 16. With such a high level of competitiveness in the tournament it is not surprising that some groups are particularly tight, with very little - and in some cases, nothing - separating the sides. The final ranking of teams in each group is not only important in terms of securing qualification for the knockout stage, but also to finalise which teams will face which, with a first-place or second-place finish potentially having a massive impact on the teams who reach the last 16. So what happens when teams finish with the same points and goal difference? Goal takes a look at the tournament tie-breakers. World Cup 2018 group stage tie-breakers rules To begin with, the basic principle of a World Cup group is that the two teams with the most points after three games progress to the next stage of the competition. However, occasionally two or more teams will finish on the same points tally. In that scenario, the teams are placed according to their goal difference, with a greater goal difference being rewarded. Some groups feature teams who are locked level on points and goal difference, so if they finish the group that way, the overall number of goals scored are taken into consideration - the more goals, the better. So to summarise: Highest number of points Goal difference Goals scored If teams are totally equal in terms of the aforementioned three criteria, further tie-breakers are used to determine the ranking order. First of all, the head-to-head results between the teams in question come into play. So, if Mexico and Sweden in Group F are tied on points, goal difference and goals scored, the result between them is used, with the winner given precedence. After that, the goal difference in the group games between the teams concerned is used, then the number of goals scored by the teams in those games. If, after all that, the teams cannot be separated, then the fair play system is used, with the most disciplined of the level teams being rewarded. For fair play, the team with the greatest number of fair play points is ranked higher. Only one of the following deductions are applied to a single player in a game: a yellow card brings about a deduction of -1, an indirect red (second yellow) costs -3, a direct red costs -4 and a yellow card plus a direct red card is a deduction of -5. Remarkably, if none of those extensive criteria - involving a number of variables - cannot separate the teams, then FIFA simply draws lots to decide who finishes where. Again, to summarise all of those points: Highest number of points Goal difference Goals scored Points obtained in group games between teams concerned Goal difference from games involving teams concerned Number of goals scored in games between teams concerned Fair play points Drawing of lots by FIFA World Cup 2018 knockout stage rules Once the teams reach the knockout stage of the World Cup there is very little room to manoeuvre and, it is pretty self-explanatory: one team must be knocked out in each tie. As such, if a game is level after the 90 minutes of normal time, it then goes into extra time, which adds a further 30 minutes onto the game, divided into two 15-minute periods. Article continues below Interestingly, for the first time in a World Cup, teams will be allowed to make a fourth substitute if the game goes into extra time. If the teams are still level after extra time, then a penalty shoot-out is required to determine the winner.<doc-sep>
With the World Cup underway, teams are starting to do the math on how they can avoid elimination. The World Cup starts with 32 teams which are split into eight groups of four: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Group G and Group H. The top two teams in each group advance, and this is where the rules get a bit more complicated. The standings are based on a point system where teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss. All four teams in a group play one match against each other, meaning there are three matches in the group stage. June 28 marks the final day of Group Stage play for the 2018 World Cup. Teams are rewarded for winning their group by playing the second place team in another group. Many times, teams have the same number of points after the group stage, and tiebreakers are used to determine which team advances. Here’s how FIFA describes the tiebreaker format, in order. 1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches. 2. Goal difference in all group matches. 3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. (If teams are still tied based on the above criteria) 4. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned. 5. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned. 6. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned. 7. Greatest number of points obtained in the fair play conduct of the teams based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows: yellow card (minus 1 point), indirect red card as a result of a second yellow card (minus three points), direct red card (minus four points), yellow card and direct red card (minus five points). Only one of the above deductions shall be applied to a player in a single match. 8. Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organizing Committee. Let’s explore a practical scenario to see how the tiebreakers play out. Team A and Team B both finish the group stage with four points. The first tiebreaker is goal difference. Team A scored eight goals and allowed four goals. Team B scored 6 goals and allowed three goals. This gives Team A a goal differential of four, which places them above Team B who has a goal differential of three, meaning Team A advances to the Round of 16. If the two teams ended up with the same goal differential, the next tiebreaker is total goals scored. If neither team has a higher number of goals, it goes to the head-to-head matchup. The next tiebreaker would be the team who scored the most goals in a match. The rest of the tiebreakers are a bit more complex with the final tiebreaker being FIFA casting lots leaving chance to determine who advances. Let’s hope none of the groups come to this. Things are a lot more straightforward in the Round of 16 as there are no ties. Games must have a winner, which means there is extra time then penalty kicks as ways to conclude matches, if necessary. Once the we are left with 16 teams, the World Cup becomes a single elimination tournament.