Rules & Triggers
Why is head-to-head not always applied first?
Quick Answer
FIFA uses goal difference first because it reflects overall group stage performance, not just one match. Head-to-head only matters if goal difference and goals scored are also equal. UEFA competitions (like Euros) use head-to-head first.
Detailed Explanation
Different competitions use different tiebreaker orders. FIFA believes goal difference better rewards consistent performance across all matches, while head-to-head only reflects one game. This is a deliberate choice to value balanced play.
📌Key Points
- 1FIFA: GD → Goals → Head-to-head
- 2UEFA: Head-to-head → GD → Goals
- 3Different philosophies on fairness
- 4FIFA values overall performance
- 5Head-to-head is 3rd tiebreaker in World Cup