The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Here’s a breakdown of the tournament format you need to know.
What is the format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The World Cup draw occurring on Friday will organize 48 teams (including placeholders) into 12 groups of four. Each team will compete in three matches during the group stage, facing every other team in their group.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage, just like in previous tournaments. However, expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams means there will be an extra knockout round. Rather than the 16 teams qualifying for the first knockout round, 32 teams will advance from the group stages.
This includes all 12 group winners and second-placed teams, along with the eight best third-placed teams. The matchups for the round of 32 will depend on the groups from which these eight third-placed teams qualify.
The knockout stage features a series of elimination matches leading up to the final. If a match ends in a tie after regulation time, there will be 30 minutes of extra time divided into two 15-minute halves, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.
– Learn how the World Cup draw works.
What are the group stage tiebreakers?
If multiple teams end the group stage with the same number of points, the following tiebreakers will be applied in this order:
1. Total points earned in matches between the tied teams
2. Goal difference in matches between the tied teams
3. Total goals scored in matches between the tied teams
If teams are still tied, these tiebreakers will be applied strictly to the matches involving those teams:
4. Overall goal difference in all group matches
5. Total goals scored in all group matches
6. Fair play score across all group matches
7. FIFA world ranking
– Find out about World Cup 2026 qualifying: Who’s in and how others can qualify.
How will the best third-placed teams be identified?
The third-placed teams from the group stage will be ranked based on the following criteria in this order:
1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Total goals scored
4. Fair play score
5. FIFA world ranking
When will the complete match schedule be available?
The full match schedule, including venues and kickoff times, will be confirmed at noon ET on December 6, the day after the draw. This article will be updated with the World Cup groups and the schedule as it becomes available.