What happens if teams finish level on points in a group?
There is no penalty shootout in the group stage. New for 2026, ties on points are broken first by the head-to-head results among the tied teams — their points, then goal difference, then goals scored against each other — and only then by overall goal difference, total goals scored, team conduct (fewest cards), and finally the FIFA World Ranking. The drawing of lots has been removed.
- 1Group-stage ties are NOT settled by penalties[1]
- 2New for 2026, the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record among the tied teams: points, then goal difference, then goals scored against each other[1]
- 3Only if still level does it go to overall goal difference, then total goals scored, then team conduct (fewest cards)[1]
- 4The final tiebreaker is the FIFA World Ranking; the drawing of lots has been removed for 2026[1]
A common newcomer question: if two teams finish a group on the same points, do they take penalties? No — shootouts only happen in the knockouts. Instead, FIFA runs down a fixed tiebreaker ladder — and for 2026 the order has changed.
What's the first tiebreaker?
New for 2026, it's the head-to-head record among only the tied teams — first their points against each other, then goal difference, then goals scored in those matches. This is the first time a World Cup puts head-to-head ahead of overall goal difference.
What if teams are still level?
Then it widens to the whole group: overall goal difference across all three games, then total goals scored, then a team-conduct score (fewest yellow and red cards).
What's the last resort?
If everything is still equal, the final tiebreaker is the FIFA World Ranking. The old "drawing of lots" has been scrapped for 2026.
Group tiebreakers, in order
| # | Tiebreaker |
|---|---|
| 1 | Head-to-head points (among the tied teams) |
| 2 | Head-to-head goal difference |
| 3 | Head-to-head goals scored |
| 4 | Overall goal difference (all group games) |
| 5 | Goals scored (all group games) |
| 6 | Team conduct (fewest cards) |
| 7 | FIFA World Ranking |
It's like using point differential and head-to-head record to seed tied teams in an NFL or NBA standings — a tiebreaker ladder, not a sudden-death game.
Key Takeaways
- There is no shootout in the group stage. New for 2026, the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record among the tied teams — points, then goal difference, then goals scored against each other.
- Only if teams are still level does it go to overall goal difference, total goals scored, team conduct (fewest cards) and finally the FIFA World Ranking. The drawing of lots is gone.
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup(accessed 2026-06-04)
- FIFA — World Cup 2026 hosts, cities and dates(accessed 2026-06-04)