For the first time, the FIFA World Cup expands to 48 teams. The new format changes how teams qualify from the group stage and adds an entirely new knockout round. Here is how it works.
The group stage
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three group matches. The top two from each group automatically advance, joined by the eight best third-placed teams across all groups โ giving 32 teams in the knockout phase.
The knockout rounds
The knockouts begin with a new Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final. In total the tournament features 104 matches, up from 64 in previous editions.
What it means for teams
Finishing third may still be enough to advance, which reduces the risk of elite teams crashing out early โ but it also rewards teams that win their group with a potentially easier path. Every goal in the group stage matters, because third-place qualification often comes down to goal difference.
Key dates
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, hosted across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The final takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
