In the group stage, teams play three games. In order to avoid all possibilities of ties, FIFA created a system of tiebreakers to be carried out when both teams are equal on points, goal difference and number of goals scored in the group stage.
Therefore, results would be based on the number of yellow cards administered to each team at the end of the 90-minute match.
How does the fair play rule affect points in FIFA World Cup matches?
These are the point deductions according to the fair play system:
Yellow cards: -1
Indirect red card: -3 (as a result of a second yellow card)
Direct red card: -4
Yellow card and direct red card: -5 (with only one of the deductions applied to a player in a single game)
Whichever team has the lower number of yellow cards wins the match.
If two teams finish the match even in fair play points, then lots will need to be drawn via random selection to determine the winner.