Who can seal a place in the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16: Qualifying rules, tiebreakers and what each team needs.
Turkey will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they beat Portugal.
The second set of UEFA EURO 2024 group games are now under way, meaning the round of 16 is beginning to take shape. We keep you up to date with the permutations, rules and tiebreakers as the tournament progresses.
The top two in each group plus the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16.
The permutations below are for information only; the official calculations will be made by UEFA after all group games finish according to articles 20 and 21 of the Regulations of the UEFA European Championship. These examples may not cover all potential situations.
Group A
23 June: Switzerland (4) vs Germany (6), Scotland (1) vs Hungary (0)
Germany are through to the round of 16 and confirmed in the top two. They will win the group if they avoid defeat against Switzerland.
Switzerland will be through to the round of 16 if they avoid defeat against Germany or Scotland fail to beat Hungary. If Switzerland lose and Scotland win they will be split on overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then disciplinary points, then European Qualifiers rankings. Switzerland will win the group if they beat Germany.
Scotland will be through to the round of 16 in second place if they beat Hungary and Switzerland lose to Germany, provided Scotland finish ahead of Switzerland in the criteria described above. Scotland will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose.
Hungary cannot finish in the top two and will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they do not beat Scotland.
Group B
24 June: Albania (1) vs Spain (6), Croatia (1) vs Italy (3)
Spain are through to the round of 16 as group winners.
Italy will be through to the round of 16 as group runners-up if they avoid defeat against Croatia. Italy will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose and Albania beat Spain.
Albania will be through to the round of 16 as group runners-up if they beat Spain and Croatia beat Italy providing Albania finish ahead of Croatia on overall goal difference or then overall goals scored, or then disciplinary points or then European Qualifiers rankings. Albania will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose, or if they draw and Croatia beat Italy.
Croatia will be through to the round of 16 as group runners-up if they beat Italy and Albania do not beat Spain (if Albania also win, Croatia and Albania will be split for second and third place by the above criteria). Croatia will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose, or if they draw and Albania avoid defeat.
Group C
25 June: England (4) vs Slovenia (2), Denmark (2) vs Serbia (1)
England will be through to the round of 16 if they avoid defeat against Slovenia or Denmark do not beat Serbia. England will win the group if they beat Slovenia or England draw and Denmark do not win. If England draw and Denmark win they will be split for first and second place on overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then disciplinary points, then European Qualifiers rankings. England cannot finish lower than third.
Denmark will be through to the round of 16 if they beat Serbia. If Denmark and Slovenia both draw, they will be split for second and third place by the criteria described above, similarly first and second place if Denmark and Slovenia both win (or Denmark and England, if Denmark win and England draw), or third and fourth place if Denmark and Slovenia both lose. Denmark will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose and Slovenia avoid defeat.
Slovenia will be through to the round of 16 if they beat England. Slovenia will win the group if they win and Denmark do not. If Slovenia and Denmark both win, they will be split for first and second place by the criteria described above, similarly second and third place if they both draw, or third and fourth place if they both lose, or Slovenia and Serbia for third or fourth place if Slovenia lose and Serbia draw.
Serbia will be through to the round of 16 if they beat Denmark and Slovenia do not beat England (if Serbia and Slovenia win, Serbia will be third behind England on head-to-head record). If Serbia draw and Slovenia lose they will be split for third and fourth place by the criteria described above. Serbia will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose, or if they draw and Slovenia avoid defeat.
Group D
25 June: Netherlands (4) vs Austria (3), France (4) vs Poland (0)
Netherlands will be through to the round of 16 (in the top two) if they avoid defeat against Austria. Netherlands will win the group if they win and France do not, or if Netherlands draw and France lose. Netherlands will finish second if they draw and France win. If Netherlands and France both win or both draw, they will be split for first place on overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then disciplinary points, then European Qualifiers rankings. Similarly if Netherlands and France both lose, they will be split for second and third place by the same criteria.
France will be through to the round of 16 (in the top two) if they avoid defeat against Poland or if Austria do not beat Netherlands. France will win the group if they win and Netherlands do not. If France and Netherlands both win or both draw they will be split for first and second place by the above criteria, similarly for second and third place if they both lose.
Austria will be through to the round of 16 (in the top two) if they beat Netherlands. Austria will win the group if they win and France do not. If Austria draw and France lose, Austria will finish third behind France on head-to-head record.
Poland are unable to reach the round of 16 and will finish fourth.
Group E
22 June: Belgium (0) vs Romania (3)
26 June: Slovakia (3) vs Romania, Ukraine (3) vs Belgium
Romania will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they beat Belgium.
Ukraine will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they beat Belgium. Further update to follow after Saturday’s game.
Slovakia will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they beat Romania. Further update to follow after Saturday’s game.
Belgium cannot go through or be eliminated on Matchday 2.
Group F
22 June: Georgia (0) vs Czech Republic (0), Turkey (3) vs Portugal (3)
26 June: Georgia vs Portugal, Czech Republic vs Turey
Tureky will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they beat Portugal. They will be confirmed as group winners if they win and Czech Republic do not beat Georgia.
Portugal will be through to the round of 16, at least as a best third-placed team, if they beat Turkey. They will be confirmed as group winners if they win and Georgia do not beat Czech Republic.
Czech Republic will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose to Georgia and Turkey do not lose to Portugal.
Georgia will be unable to reach the round of 16 if they lose to Czech Republic and Portugal do not lose to Turkey.
How teams are split when level on points
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the final tournament group stage, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine their rankings:
a. higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question
b. superior goal difference resulting from the matches played among the teams in question
c. higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question
d. if, after having applied criteria a) to c), teams still have an equal ranking, criteria a) to c) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria e) to i) apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal
e. superior goal difference in all group matches
f. higher number of goals scored in all group matches
g. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
h. position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings, or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots
If two teams which have the same number of points and the same number of goals scored and conceded play their last group match against each other and are still equal at the end of that match, their final rankings are determined by kicks from the penalty mark, provided that no other teams within the group have the same number of points on completion of all group matches. Should more than two teams have the same number of points, the criteria listed under Paragraph 20.01 apply.
How the four best third-placed teams are decided
With reference to article 21.03, the results of the third-placed teams are compared based on their three group stage matches, according to the following criteria:
a. higher number of points
b. superior goal difference
c. higher number of goals scored
d. higher number of wins
e. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
f. position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings, or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots
Once the four best third-placed teams were determined, article 21.05 of the regulations explains which third-placed team plays in which tie.