The 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is quickly drawing near. Here’s everything you need to understand about the tournament’s structure.
What is the format of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The World Cup draw happening this Friday will divide 48 teams (including placeholders) into 12 groups, each consisting of four teams. Every team will compete in three matches during the group stage, facing each opponent in its respective group.
The leading two teams from each group will progress to the knockout phase, similar to past tournaments. However, the enlargement of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams will introduce an additional round of knockout games. Rather than 16 teams progressing to the initial knockout round, as has been typical since 1998, a total of 32 will emerge from the group phase.
This implies that all 12 group victors and 12 runners-up will advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams. The specific matchups for the round of 32 will rely on the groups from which the eight third-placed teams qualify.
The knockout phase comprises a succession of winner-takes-all encounters leading up to the final match. If a game concludes in a tie after regulation time, 30 minutes of extra time are played in two halves of 15 minutes each, followed by a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
– What is the process of the World Cup draw?
What tiebreakers will be used for the group stage?
1. Most points accumulated in the group matches among the involved teams
2. Superior goal difference in the matches played among the involved teams
3. Most goals scored in the matches played among the involved teams
Should teams remain tied, the same tiebreakers will be reapplied exclusively to the matches played between those teams.
Subsequently, ties will be resolved using the following criteria, which are also the primary ones used for ties between just two teams.
4. Superior goal difference across all group matches
5. Most goals scored in all group matches
6. Highest team conduct («fair play») score in all group matches
7. FIFA world ranking
– World Cup 2026 qualifying: Who has made it, and how others can qualify
How will the top third-placed teams be determined?
The third-placed teams during the group stage will be ranked based on the following criteria, in order:
1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Team conduct score
5. FIFA world ranking
When will the complete match schedule be finalized?
The entire schedule, detailing each match’s venue and kickoff time, will be finalized at noon ET on December 6, the day following the draw. This article will be updated with information regarding World Cup groups and the schedule as it becomes available.
