re: Is goal differential the first tie breaker in all forms of soccer?

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Pretty much. Goal differential is usually the best way to determine who was better throughout the event, considering all teams play each other.

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But group play isn't consistent. Because as the last game approaches, the outcomes vary greatly by each team.

So if team A needs a win vs team B plus 3 goals to advance over team C and team C has already been eliminated or is locked into their seed to advance, A's opportunity to score 3 goals is greater.

This is all while team C has beaten A head to head and is playing team D that is fighting to advance as well.