How does qualification for the World Cup knockout stage work? (opens original article in a new tab)

FIFA has updated the World Cup knockout stage qualification rules, prioritizing head-to-head results over goal difference and introducing a Team Conduct Score for tiebreakers.

• FIFA has changed the tiebreaker for World Cup group stage from goal difference to head-to-head results.
• Teams tied on points are ranked by points from matches against each other, then goal difference, goals scored, and Team Conduct Score (TCS).
• TCS deducts points for yellow and red cards, with South Africa having the worst score at -12.