Is it Goal Difference or Head to Head that counts?

[D P P]

I just realised

im the event that England beat usa which is very likely

in the last game if Iran draw usa

and wales manage a 1-0 win over England (England will already be through and may ay b side or throw the game)

this leaves Iran on 4 points but -2 goal difference

ans Wales on 4 points and a -1 goal difference

Which would be a disaster!

Unless it is head to head that decides it, does anybody know??

[aariaa]

GD
GF
H2H

Don't worry. There's very little chance Wales or US beats England
Their B-Side has Rashford, Alexander-Arnold, Grealish etc. And they will be fighting really hard to prove they should be on the starting XI

[KasraKhan]

It is GD. In the scenario you described, Iran would fail to advance.

That's why we need England to not lose to either US/Wales. If they don't, we'll be through with a draw.

[maziar]

I just checked the tie-breaking rules. It would be goal difference. You can see below.

The ranking of teams in the group stage is determined as follows:^[159]

1. Points obtained in all group matches:
   • Win: 3 points;
   • Draw: 1 point;
   • Loss: 0 points;
2. Goal difference in all group matches;
3. Number of goals scored in all group matches;
4. Points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
5. Goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question;
6. Number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
7. Fair play points in all group matches (only one deduction can be applied to a player in a single match):
   • Yellow card: −1 point;
   • Indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
   • Direct red card: −4 points;
   • Yellow card and direct red card: −5 points;
8. Drawing of lots.