How the 48-team World Cup works

1.48 teams, 12 groups

For the first time the World Cup has 48 teams, drawn into twelve groups (A–L) of four. Each team plays the other three in its group once — 72 group matches in 15 days.

2.Top two advance

The top two in every group advance, exactly as before. That's 24 of the 32 knockout places — decided by points, then (new for 2026) head-to-head result before goal difference when teams finish level.

3.Best 8 thirds advance

The key change is that the eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups also advance. They're ranked against each other on points, then goal difference, then goals scored — so a win and a draw (4 points) almost always sends a third-placed team through, and even 3 points with a decent goal difference can be enough.

Four third-placed teams miss out. Watch the live third-place table during the last matchdays as the cutoff moves.

● top two · ● third place, competing for 8 of 12 spots · ● out

4.The round of 32

The knockout starts at a round of 32 — also new. Group winners and runners-up land in fixed bracket slots; the eight third-placed qualifiers are seeded into eight specific matches, mostly against group winners. Which slot a third-placed team gets depends on which groups the best eight come from.

See the bracket fill in as groups finish.

5.Straight knockout

From the round of 32 it's a straight knockout: 32 → 16 → 8 → 4 → 2, with extra time and penalties from the first knockout round. 104 matches in 39 days, ending with the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday 19 July at 22:00 EAT.