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How the first 48-team World Cup works — groups, knockout rounds, tiebreakers and key dates.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition with 48 teams. Twelve groups of four play a single round-robin; the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance — and for the first time ever, the knockout stage begins with a Round of 32.
48 teams split into 12 groups (A–L) of four. Each team plays the other three teams in its group once. Wins are 3 points, draws 1, losses 0.
32 teams advance: the top two from every group, plus the eight best third-placed teams. From there it's straight knockout: Round of 32 → Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Third-place playoff → Final at MetLife Stadium in New York / New Jersey.
When teams are level on points: goal difference → goals scored → head-to-head points → head-to-head goal difference → head-to-head goals scored → fair-play record → drawing of lots.