Over the next week, the Club World Cup field will be significantly reduced, going from 32 teams down to 16. As the group stage concludes across the U.S., the path will be cleared for the knockout rounds, set to begin on Saturday.
As anticipated, the Round of 16 is largely expected to feature clubs from Europe and South America. However, this doesn`t mean the tournament has been without its surprises. South American teams have collectively suffered only one defeat so far. Flamengo, for instance, is one of the few teams that have already secured their spot in the next phase, doing so with a game in hand after victories against Esperance de Tunis and Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Inter Miami are in a strong position to potentially be the only club outside of those two continents to advance to the Last 16, thanks to their surprising 2-1 victory over Porto. Despite expectations, most teams projected to reach the next stage have yet to officially confirm their places, setting the stage for a dramatic final round of group matches.
Club World Cup Tiebreakers
Here`s how teams are separated if they are level on points:
- Points accumulated in the group stage.
- Head-to-head points in matches between the tied teams.
- Goal difference in matches between the tied teams.
- Goals scored in matches between the tied teams.
- Overall group stage goal difference.
- Overall group stage goals scored.
- Disciplinary points (based on yellow and red cards).
- Drawing of lots.
Group Stage Scenarios
Group A
Palmeiras advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Inter Miami.
- A loss to Inter Miami, AND Al Ahly win over Porto OR Porto win over Al Ahly, AND Palmeiras finish ahead of Porto on goal difference.
Inter Miami advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Palmeiras.
- A loss to Palmeiras, AND Porto win over Al Ahly OR Inter Miami finish ahead of Al Ahly on goal difference.
Porto advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Al Ahly, AND Palmeira`s loss to Inter Miami, AND Porto finish ahead of Palmeiras on goal difference.
Al Ahly advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Porto, AND Inter Miami loss to Palmeiras, AND Al Ahly finish ahead of Inter Miami on goal difference.
Group B
Botafogo advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Atletico Madrid.
- A loss to Atletico Madrid, AND Paris Saint-Germain loss to Seattle Sounders.
Paris Saint-Germain advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Seattle Sounders.
- A draw against Seattle Sounders, AND Botafogo secure a win or a draw against Atletico Madrid.
- A loss to Seattle Sounders, AND Botafogo win against Atletico Madrid, AND tiebreakers favor Paris Saint-Germain.
Atletico Madrid advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Botafogo, AND Paris Saint-Germain draw or loss against Seattle Sounders.
- A draw against Botafogo, AND Paris Saint-Germain loss to Seattle Sounders.
Seattle Sounders advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Pairs Saint-Germain by three or more goals, AND Atletico Madrid loss to Botafogo.
Group C
Bayern Munich: Qualified for the Round of 16.
Benfica advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Bayern Munich.
- A loss to Bayern Munich, AND Boca Juniors draw or loss to Auckland City.
Boca Juniors advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Auckland City, AND Benfica loss to Bayern Munich, AND Boca Juniors finish ahead of Benfica on goal difference.
Auckland City: Eliminated from the competition.
Group D
Flamengo: Qualified for the Round of 16.
Chelsea advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Esperance de Tunis.
Esperance de Tunis advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Chelsea.
LAFC: Eliminated from the competition.
Group E
River Plate advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Inter.
- A draw against Inter, AND Monterrey draw or loss to Urawa Red Diamonds.
Inter advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against River Plate.
- A loss to River Plate, AND Monterrey draw or loss to Urawa Red Diamonds.
Monterrey advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Urawa Red Diamonds, AND River Plate loss to Inter OR Inter loss to River Plate OR a goalless draw between River Plate and Inter.
Urawa Red Diamonds: Eliminated from the competition.
Group F
Fluminense advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Mamelodi Sundowns.
- A loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, AND Borussia Dortmund loss to Ulsan HD by the same or a larger margin as Fluminense`s loss.
Borussia Dortmund advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Ulsan HD.
- A loss to Ulsan HD, AND Fluminense win or draw against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mamelodi Sundowns advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Fluminense, AND Borussia Dortmund loss to Ulsan HD.
Ulsan HD: Eliminated from the competition.
Group G
Juventus: Qualified for the Round of 16.
Manchester City: Qualified for the Round of 16.
Wydad Casablanca: Eliminated from the competition.
Al-Ain: Eliminated from the competition.
Group H
Real Madrid advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against RB Salzburg.
- A loss to RB Salzburg, AND Al-Hilal draw or loss to Pachuca.
RB Salzburg advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win or draw against Real Madrid.
- A loss to Real Madrid, AND Al-Hilal loss to Pachuca.
Al-Hilal advance to the Round of 16 with:
- A win against Pachuca, AND Real Madrid loss to RB Salzburg OR RB Salzburg loss to Real Madrid.
Pachuca: Eliminated from the competition.
