The report says has revised the group-stage tiebreakers. If teams finish level on points, their head-to-head record would be considered before overall goal difference.
That places greater emphasis on direct meetings:
The change could discourage teams from focusing solely on heavy wins against weaker opponents. A positive result against a nearby rival may carry more value than an inflated margin elsewhere in the group.
Once the groups are complete, the 12 third-placed sides would be ranked in a separate table. Since those teams have not played one another, head-to-head results would not apply.
The reported order is:
Discipline could therefore become decisive. Yellow and red cards shown to players and officials would affect a team’s conduct score, making match management important even after qualification appears within reach.
The expanded tournament promises more late-stage tension, but it also creates a complicated qualification race. When the group stage begins, teams will need to track not only their own results but also the performance, goal difference and disciplinary record of third-placed rivals across the tournament.