# Law 55: Appendix D: Classification of Teams (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 55: Appendix D: Classification of Teams · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-55-appendix-d-classification-of-teams/)

Classification points, tie-breaking criteria, forfeits, comparing teams across groups and phases, and home-and-away aggregate series.

## 55.551 Points and Tie-breaks

Classification points and the order of the criteria.

### Test 1: Classification points and criteria

- Teams get 2 classification points for a win, 1 for a loss (including by default) and 0 for a loss by forfeit. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1)
- One win at 2 points and two losses at 1 point each make 4. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1)
- Three wins at 2 and two losses at 1 make 8. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1)
- The procedure is used for all competitions with a round-robin system. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.2)
- The game(s) between the tied teams decide first. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- Next comes the higher game points difference in the games between them. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- In competitions with no FIBA ranking, a draw decides when the criteria cannot. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- Head-to-head record, then head-to-head difference, then head-to-head points, then the whole group's difference. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- Record, then points difference, then points scored, then the FIBA ranking. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.1)
- Two for a win, one for any loss but a forfeit, which gives none. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.1)

### Test 2: Breaking ties

- Level on record, the game between them decides: A won it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3, D.2.1)
- Once a team is classified, the procedure starts again from the beginning for the remaining teams. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.4)
- Only the games among the tied teams count at this stage. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- Level on head-to-head record, the higher points difference between them decides. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- With one team placed, the procedure restarts for the rest, so the game between the two decides first. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.4)
- In National Teams Competitions the relevant FIBA ranking determines the final classification. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- The fourth criterion is the higher number of game points scored in all games in the group. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)
- Once one team is placed, the procedure restarts for the remaining teams. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3-D.1.4)
- B leads on difference; C and D restart, and C beat D. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.2.2)
- B is first on difference; C and D restart and C beat D, so D is third of them. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.4, D.2.2)

## 55.552 Forfeits, Groups and Series

Forfeits, cross-group comparisons, phases and aggregate series.

### Test 1: Forfeits and cross-group places

- Higher group placing in the Group Phase comes first. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.2)
- The teams on the same position in each group are placed in one group. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.1)
- The results of all games of the last placed team in the cross-over group are also nullified. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.3.3)
- One table of like-placed teams, judged on their revised group results. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.1)
- Games of the last placed team in the larger groups are nullified until all have played the same number. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.2)
- The annulment for cross-group purposes does not alter the initial standing of teams in their group. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.4.2)
- The results of a withdrawn or twice-forfeiting team are nullified from all relevant phases. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.1)
- Remove the withdrawn side everywhere first; only then rank the others. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.1)
- Higher group placing first, then win-loss record, points difference and points scored in the group phase. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.5.2)
- Level on record, so A's win over B settles it. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.1.3)

### Test 2: Home-and-away series

- The 2 games are considered as 1 game of 80 minutes duration. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.1)
- If the score is tied at the end of the first game, no overtime is played. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.2)
- 160 each, so game 2 needs overtime to separate them. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.7.5)
- The winner of both games wins the series. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.4)
- With one win each, the greater aggregate wins: A is 4 ahead. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.4, D.7.2)
- No overtime in game 1; B leads on aggregate 172-165. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.7.3)
- Game 2 needs overtime only if the aggregate is level; B leads 160-155. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.7.4)
- Overtime only in game 2, and only if the aggregate is tied. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6)
- Both wins first; otherwise aggregate; a tie goes to overtime in game 2. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.3-D.6.4)
- One win each, so the aggregate decides: A 152, B 148. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix D, D.6.4, D.7.2)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Appendix D (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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