With the first round of World Cup group stage action in the books, it’s time to start looking at how FIFA goes about breaking ties in the standings to place teams in the knockout-round bracket. The top two teams in each group advance to the round of 16.
Here’s how the teams are ranked in the groups, as explained by FIFA:
1. Greatest number of points (each team gets three for a win and one for a draw).
2. Goal difference in all group matches.
3. Goals scored in all group matches.
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And if two or more teams still are tied after that? We go to:
1. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned.
2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned.
3. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned.
4. Greater number of points obtained regarding fair play conduct (yellow cards = minus-1; indirect red card, as a result of a second yellow card = minus-3, direct red card = minus-4, yellow card and direct red = minus-5, with only one of the deductions applied to a player in a single game).
And if, by some quirk, there’s still a tie?
Then there will be a drawing of lots by FIFA’s Organizing Committee.
Here are the current advancement scenarios; this will be updated as the group stage winds down.
All times Eastern.
Group A
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Russia | 2-0-0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| Uruguay | 2-0-0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Egypt | 0-0-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Saudi Arabia | 0-0-2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -6 |
Russia and Uruguay have secured passage to the knockout round after just two games, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated. Russia will earn first place in the group with a win or draw against Uruguay on Monday (in the case of the latter, Uruguay cannot overtake Russia on goal differential).
Remaining games
Uruguay vs. Russia, June 25, 10 a.m.
Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt, June 25, 10 a.m.
Group B
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Spain | 1-1-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Portugal | 1-1-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Iran | 1-0-1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Morocco | 0-0-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
Morocco has been eliminated from knockout round contention. Spain and Portugal both need just a draw to clinch advancement. Iran almost certainly needs to defeat Portugal to have a chance; a draw would give Team Melli 4 points, not likely enough unless Spain loses by at least two goals to Morocco.
Remaining games
Iran vs. Portugal, June 25, 2 p.m.
Spain vs. Morocco, June 25, 2 p.m.
Group C
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| France | 2-0-0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Denmark | 1-1-0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Australia | 0-1-1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Peru | 0-0-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
France is through to the round of 16 with Thursday’s win over Peru, which has been eliminated from knockout-round contention. Denmark simply needs a draw with France to move on. Australia is still alive but its chances are far less certain; at the bare minimum it needs to beat Peru and have Denmark lose to France. An Australia win by at least two goals combined with a Denmark loss — of any margin — would put the Socceroos through. But should the Aussies win by just one goal, their chances would depend on Denmark’s margin of defeat and goals scored against France. For instance, a 1-0 Australia win combined with a 1-0 Denmark loss would put the Socceroos through by virtue of the total-goals tiebreaker. But a 1-0 Australia win combined with a 3-2 Denmark loss would work in the Danes’ favor, for the same reason.
Remaining games
Denmark vs. France, June 26, 10 a.m.
Australia vs. Peru, June 26, 10 a.m.
Group D
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Croatia | 2-0-0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Nigeria | 1-1-0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Iceland | 0-1-1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| Argentina | 0-1-1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
Croatia is through to the knockout round with its shockingly dominant win over Argentina. Nigeria will advance with a win over Argentina on Tuesday, and it likely will advance with a draw, though that isn’t guaranteed. As for the other two squads, there’s hope. Iceland needs to beat Croatia and hope Nigeria loses to Argentina by a margin that doesn’t alter the current goal-differential standings. Iceland could also advance if Nigeria and Argentina draw, either with a win over Croatia by at least three goals, or a two-goal win over Croatia provided Iceland also outscores Nigeria by at least two. (Got that?)
Argentina, meanwhile, needs to beat Nigeria and hope for either an Iceland loss or draw, or it needs to blow out Nigeria and hope that any Iceland win over Croatia is close. (In other words, Argentina’s margin of victory needs to be larger than Iceland’s margin of victory).
At the essence of it all, Iceland and Argentina both need to win to have any chance to advance. After that it comes down to the final scores and other results.
Remaining games
Nigeria vs. Argentina, June 26, 2 p.m.
Iceland vs. Croatia, June 26, 2 p.m.
Group E
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Brazil | 1-1-0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 1-1-0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Serbia | 1-0-1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Costa Rica | 0-0-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
There’s now a tie atop Group E, with Brazil ahead of Switzerland on goal differential. Brazil will advance to the knockout round with either a win or a draw against Serbia. Switzerland can similarly advance with either a win or a draw against Costa Rica. Both Brazil and Switzerland could even advance with a loss, provided the other team also loses, with the second slot in the group then being awarded based on goal differential and/or goals scored.
Serbia must at least earn a draw against the Brazilians to have any chance at advancement, but that would only be enough if Switzerland loses to Costa Rica, putting goal differential and/or goals scored in play. Serbia would clinch a knockout round berth with a win over Brazil.
Costa Rica has been eliminated from knockout-round contention after its loss to Brazil on Friday.
Remaining games
Brazil vs. Serbia, June 27, 2 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Costa Rica, June 27, 2 p.m.
Group F
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Mexico | 2-0-0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Sweden | 1-0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Germany | 0-0-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| South Korea | 0-0-2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
El Tri moves another step closer to reaching the knockout stages for the seventh consecutive tournament with a win over South Korea. A loss or draw by Germany against Sweden would clinch Mexico’s spot in the round of 16. Germany, the reigning champions, must win or draw with Sweden if it wants to remain in contention to advance. South Korea, with its loss Saturday, needs Germany to win to keep its hopes alive. Sweden would join El Tri in the knockout rounds with a win over Germany.
Remaining games
Germany vs. Sweden, June 23, 2 p.m.
Mexico vs. Sweden, June 27, 10 a.m.
Germany vs. South Korea, June 27, 10 a.m.
Group G
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Belgium | 2-0-0 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| England | 1-0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Panama | 0-0-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| Tunisia | 0-0-2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | -4 |
Belgium will secure passage to the round of 16 if England defeats or draws with Panama on Sunday. A win by England will also clinch advancement for the Three Lions. Panama will be ousted should it lose to England, but will still be alive if it gets a point. Tunisia will be eliminated if Panama loses or draws.
Remaining games
England vs. Panama, June 24, 8 a.m.
Tunisia vs. Panama, June 28, 2 p.m.
England vs. Belgium, June 28, 2 p.m.
Group H
| Team | Record (W-D-L) | Points | GF | GA | Diff. |
| Japan | 1-0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Senegal | 1-0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Poland | 0-0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Colombia | 0-0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
Remaining games
Japan vs. Senegal, June 24, 11 a.m.
Poland vs. Colombia, June 24, 2 p.m.
Japan vs. Poland, June 28, 10 a.m.
Colombia vs. Senegal, June 28, 10 a.m.
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