The WORST Rule In Soccer

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The Worst Rule in All of Soccer.

Welcome to the worst rule in soccer. A scary man once asked, "What's the most you've ever lost on a coin toss?" Well what if I told you that your country's World Cup fate could live or die based on a literal coin toss? Well it could...and here's how.

Under current FIFA rules, in the group stage of the World Cup each group contains four teams who all play each other once. Of course three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero points for a loss. The two teams with the most points from all of their games go on to the knock out round and the others go home. But what if there is a tie for second place?

Most people know that Goal Difference from all games played is the tie-breaker if points are even. But what if two or more teams and tied on points and goal difference? Then the team who scored the most goals in all of their matches goes ahead.

You may now be wondering, what if there's still a tie? Great question and this is where is gets more interesting. Basically, to break the tie, the group becomes reduced to only the teams that are tied based on the three steps above. There can be a two or three way tie for second. Actually, if all the teams tie all the matches by the same score there would be a four way tie for first place, more on that later.

Let's say there's a two way tie for second. Both beams B and C had the same points, goal difference and goals scored. We would then look at how they did against each other. Which ever team won that game would necessarily have more points, a better goal difference and more goals scored in that (head to head) game and would go forward.

And what if three teams are tied for second place? Let's say team A beat everyone 2-0. They would move on with nine points and a plus 6 goal difference. Now let's say that all of the other games were one-one draws, the table would look like this. Team B, C and D all have two points, a minus two goal difference and two goals scored. To break this tie we remove team A and only look at the three games played between teams B, C and D. Which would make the table look like this. They all still have two points, and now a zero goal difference and two goals scored from their games with each other.

In this case, according to FIFA, the tie is broken by a "Drawing of lots by the FIFA organizing comittee". You heard that right, a drawing of lots, a literal coin toss to determine who goes forward in the World Cup and who goes home.

Actually, if three teams are tied. It's worse than a coin toss chance.

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