FIFA World Cup 2026
Your World Cup home
Follow every group, knockout tie, and nation — star your teams for a personalized feed.
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2026 tournament format
FIFA's new 48-team World Cup
The 2026 edition changes how the tournament is structured: more nations, twelve groups, and a larger knockout round. Here is how it works before you dive into fixtures and standings on this site.
48
Teams
Expanded from 32 — the biggest World Cup ever.
12×4
Groups
Groups A–L, four nations each, three matches per team.
32
Knockout spots
Top two from every group plus the eight best third-place sides.
104
Matches
72 group games, then Round of 32 through Final (+ third-place play-off).
Group stage
Each team plays three games in its group. Win 3 pts, draw 1, loss 0. Goal difference and head-to-head break ties in the table.
Who advances
24 teams go through as group winners or runners-up. The eight highest-ranked third-place teams join them for a 32-team knockout bracket.
Knockout path
Round of 32 → Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final. Losers of the semis meet in the third-place match.
Hosts
USA, Canada, and Mexico co-host — first World Cup across three nations and the first with 48 finalists.
Explore live standings, the full calendar, and the knockout bracket in the hub — or try the prediction simulator to play through your own 48-team path.