Soccer fans have been used to the 32-team World Cup format, which lasted for seven tournaments from 1998 until 2022. The 2026 edition in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, however, will see 48 nations take part for the first time, meaning we need to forget what we once knew and start fresh.
2026 World Cup group stage format
Friday’s draw will divide the 48 participants, six of which are still unknown, into 12 groups of four. Previously, 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four.
Under the old format, the top two teams from each group advanced neatly to the round of 16, and that was that. Done and dusted.
Now, things are a little more complex. The expanded format not only includes more countries but also adds an extra knockout round, the round of 32. Of the 48 teams that qualified, 32 will move on to the first knockout round, while 16 will go home early.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, totaling 24 teams, will progress to the round of 32. They will be joined by the eight third-placed teams with the best records in the group stage.
2026 World Cup group stage tiebreakers
Each team only plays three games in the group stage, which means tiebreakers are likely if countries finish with the same number of points. Ties between teams level on points will be broken in this order:
Extra round in the knockout stage
The tournament then returns to the familiar knockout format, but with one extra round, the round of 32. That is followed by the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place game, and final.
Jabacnostu
1
WC is now eight games, one more game is added as round of 32...
GopsAmeshu
0
tie-breaker in the league stages without taking into consideration goal difference. Just should look at the points and let the tie breaker decide who advance