Mexico and Poland nearly forced FIFA to draw lots to pick who advanced out of Group C at Qatar 2022. But what are the World Cup tiebreaker rules and how many have needed lots?
Poland entered the final fixtures in Group C atop the table after a 0-0 draw against Mexico before beating Saudi Arabia 2-0. El Tri, meanwhile, lost 2-0 to Argentina in their second tie. But the North Americans put the Bialo-Czerwoni’s place at risk as they faced Saudi Arabia.
Argentina were comfortably the better team against Poland and led 2-0 but regularly came close to scoring more. Mexico also led Saudi Arabia 2-0. But El Tri had to keep pushing for another goal to overtake the Bialo-Czerwoni in second as Poland held the tiebreaker lead.
What are the tiebreaker rules for the 2022 Qatar World Cup?
The tiebreaker rules for Qatar 2022 are listed under Article 20.6 of the FIFA regulations for the World Cup. It notes eight possible circumstances to settle which team(s) advances into the knockouts. The main point to determine the rankings is the number of points achieved.
But should two or more teams share the same number of points following their group ties, of which Qatar 2022 features three per side, goals scored and conceded come into effect. FIFA then works down its order with points in individual fixtures, goals, bookings then lots.
- The overall number of points obtained throughout the group stage
- The overall goal difference recorded through all group stage games
- The greatest number of goals scored during all group stage matches
- The most points obtained in matches between the teams concerned
- Goal difference based on the matches between the teams concerned
- The most goals scored during the games between the teams concerned
- FIFA’s fair play points system from bookings given in all group stage games
- The FIFA Organising Committee drawing lots to determine the advancing side
FIFA’s fair play points system deducts points from the teams concerned based on the cards referees show across all group stage games. A team cannot fall further down a group table than the positions concerned when selecting which team advances to the knockout stages.
- First yellow card = minus 1 point
- Second yellow card / indirect red card = minus 3 points
- Direct red card = minus 4 points
- A yellow card and a direct red card = minus 5 points
How did Mexico and Poland almost force lots to determine the Group C table?
Poland held the tiebreaker over Mexico while 2-0 down to Argentina despite El Tri leading Saudi Arabia 2-0. The scores meant the Bialo-Czerwoni and El Tri held identical records for points (4), goal difference (+/-0), goals scored (2) and goals conceded (2) during three ties.
But Poland held the tiebreaker by virtue of taking fewer bookings during their three games to Mexico. Referees showed Bialo-Czerwoni players five yellow cards through 270 minutes of action. But referees had shown Tri players seven yellow cards over their three fixtures.
Mexico would have been just the second team to ever exit a World Cup through FIFA’s fair play points system. Senegal became the first nation to crash out of a group stage through the metric at Russia 2018. But it ultimately did not come to that at Qatar 2022 in the end.
Saudi Arabia pulled a goal back to only lose 2-1 to Mexico in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage-time. It meant Poland held on to finish as runners-up to Argentina for a Round of 16 spot on goal difference. They will now take on 2018 champions France on December 4.
How many times has FIFA drawn lots to determine a World Cup group?
FIFA has only drawn lots to determine a World Cup group once before Qatar 2022. It came during Italia 90 when the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands could not be separated by FIFA’s tiebreaker rules for the 14th edition of its World Cup, which West Germany won.
England won Group F at Italia 90 with four points after they drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland, 0-0 with the Netherlands and beat Egypt 1-0. Oranje, meanwhile, drew with Egypt 1-1 and the Boys in Green 1-1. The Republic of Ireland and Egypt also played a 0-0 draw.
So, it meant the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland both had three points from three games with two goals scored and two conceded. They had also drawn 1-1 to force FIFA to draw lots. FIFA did not have a fair play points system in use as a tiebreaker during Italia 90.
FIFA broadcasted the drawing of lots to determine the places in Group F at the 1990 World Cup live. It saw two balls placed into a glass bowl with the names of those teams – Ireland and Netherlands – inside. But neither nation went home as a result of the drawing of lots.
Instead, the Netherlands were drawn out first and then drawn as the No.3 placed side. The Republic of Ireland then, naturally, followed and were drawn as the No.2 placed side. But Oranje remained in the competition for the Round of 16 – only to lose to West Germany.
Italia 90 saw the top-four third-placed teams from the six groups progress into the Round of 16. The Netherlands’ record was the third-best behind Argentina and Colombia, whilst ahead of Uruguay, Austria and Scotland. The Republic of Ireland reached the quarter-final.
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