FIFA Club World Cup applies strange rules that make many teams 'fall backwards'

Many teams were extremely surprised by the regulations on how to determine the rankings of teams with equal points in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Many football teams will face difficulties due to FIFA regulations - Photo: REUTERS

Instead of prioritizing goal difference as is traditional at the World Cup, FIFA has decided to apply the direct confrontation criteria in the group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This creates an incomprehensible inconsistency for the very top tournaments it organizes.

According to the regulations of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, when two or more teams are equal on points after the end of the group stage, the rankings of the teams will be decided based on the following criteria (in order of priority): Head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference and head-to-head goals.

Only after these three direct confrontation criteria still cannot determine the winner, FIFA will consider the sub-indices of the entire group stage, including:

Goal difference in the group, goals scored in the group and fair-play points (based on number of cards).

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has been mired in controversy since its inception - Photo: REUTERS

This rule is familiar in club tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League. However, FIFA - the world's largest football organization - applying it to its tournament has created a paradox. This is because it goes completely against the "gold standard" they have maintained for decades at the World Cup.

At the most prestigious playground in the world , the World Cup, the rules always emphasize the spirit of dedication and effort throughout the group stage. When teams are equal on points, the top priority criterion is always the final goal difference.

World Cup rules stipulate: Points, goal difference in the group, goals scored in the group, head-to-head points and head-to-head difference.

By applying different rules to its two top tournaments, FIFA puts itself in a difficult position.

This is somewhat confusing for global fans who are used to looking at goal difference to calculate the chances of advancing in FIFA tournaments. This change breaks a habit and can lead to unnecessary misunderstandings about the group situation.

However, experts say that FIFA's decision may be aimed at increasing the drama of direct confrontations, possibly turning them into the focus of the media.

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THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/fifa-club-world-cup-ap-dung-luat-la-khien-nhieu-doi-nga-ngua-20250620152553608.htm