Will Brazil qualify this Friday? See scenarios for the Selection in Group C
The Brazilian team takes the field this Friday (19) to play its second game in the 2026 World Cup. The team is under pressure due to its performance below expectations in its debut against Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey.
But, even if they win with an elastic score, striving for a good goal difference in the match, the place in the knockout stage is still not guaranteed. According to the competition regulations, the top two in each group are guaranteed in the next phase, and the eight best third-placed teams overall among the 12 groups.
The decision must be made for the match against Scotland. Check out the scenarios.
- Brazil beats Haiti
This is the ideal situation for the Brazilian team, even if it does not guarantee classification in the second round - even with a defeat for Morocco.
In the event of a negative result for Hakimi's team, Brazil would enter the last round depending on a draw to advance to the stage.
- Brazil draws with Haiti
A draw in a game against an opponent considered weaker is never good news, especially in a World Cup. If they draw, Brazil will go to two points, and leave all the responsibility for qualifying for the final round against Scotland, or else bet on the tiebreaker criteria to come in third place.
- Brazil loses to Haiti
This scenario is disastrous for several reasons. But, with just one point, the Brazilian team would need to win in the last round and defeat all opponents, running the risk of an early elimination in the tournament, a fact that has only happened twice in history: in 1930, in the Uruguayan Cup, and in 1966, in England.
See the order of the tiebreaker criteria
When two or more teams finish the group stage with the same number of points, the classification is defined by the following criteria:
Direct confrontation
- Highest number of points scored in matches between tied teams;
- Best goal difference in matches between tied teams;
- Highest number of goals scored in matches between tied teams.
If there is still equality after analyzing the direct confrontations, FIFA moves on to the general performance criteria.
Performance throughout the group stage
- Best goal difference considering all group matches;
- Highest number of goals scored in all group matches;
- Best disciplinary index (fair play).
How does the fair play criterion work?
The disciplinary index takes into account the cards received by players and members of the coaching staff during the group stage.
The score is calculated as follows:
- Yellow card: minus 1 point;
- Expulsion for two yellow cards: minus 3 points;
- Direct red card: minus 4 points;
- Yellow card followed by a direct red card: minus 5 points.
The team that has the best disciplinary score - that is, the one that accumulates the fewest punishments - has the advantage in the tiebreaker.
With Messi at the top, see what the historic World Cup score is like
Source: CNN