World Cup 2026 Format Explained: 48 Teams, New Rules & How It Works
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the biggest change in tournament history. For the first time ever, 48 nations will compete — up from 32 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the expanded tournament brings a new group stage format, a larger knockout bracket, and 104 total matches across 16 venues.
Why Did FIFA Expand to 48 Teams?
FIFA voted unanimously in January 2017 to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2026. The decision aimed to give more countries — particularly from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF — a chance to compete on the world stage. The expansion increases confederation slots: UEFA receives 16 spots (up from 13), CAF gets 9.5 (up from 5), AFC gets 8.5 (up from 4.5), CONCACAF receives 6.5 (up from 3.5), CONMEBOL keeps 6.5, and OFC gets 1.5 (up from 0.5). The host countries (USA, Canada, Mexico) qualify automatically.
Group Stage: 12 Groups of 4
The 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of 4 teams each (Group A through Group L). Each team plays 3 group matches — one against each of the other teams in their group.
The top 2 teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. That means 24 teams qualify automatically from group play, creating a 32-team knockout bracket.
Points are awarded as usual: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss. Tiebreakers follow the standard FIFA criteria: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head results, and fair play points.
Knockout Bracket: Round of 32 to the Final
The 32 qualifying teams enter a single-elimination bracket with the following rounds:
- Round of 32 — 16 matches
- Round of 16 — 8 matches
- Quarter-finals — 4 matches
- Semi-finals — 2 matches
- Third-place play-off
- Final
All knockout matches that end in a draw after 90 minutes go to extra time (2 x 15 minutes) and then a penalty shootout if needed. This is the same format used at previous World Cups for knockout rounds.
Host Countries & Venues
The 2026 World Cup is the first tournament hosted by three countries simultaneously. Matches will be played across 16 stadiums in 16 cities:
- United States (11 venues) — New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium, site of the final), Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Kansas City, Boston
- Mexico (3 venues) — Mexico City (Estadio Azteca), Guadalajara, Monterrey
- Canada (2 venues) — Toronto, Vancouver
Key Dates
- Opening match: June 11, 2026 — Mexico City (Estadio Azteca)
- Group stage: June 11 – June 29, 2026
- Knockout rounds: July 1 – July 17, 2026
- Final: July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
Simulate the 2026 World Cup
Now that you know the format, try predicting every match yourself. Our free World Cup 2026 Simulator lets you fill in scores for all 104 matches — from the group stage through the final — and share your bracket with friends.