Info · Rules
Rules & format of the 2026 World Cup
WM 2026
Overview of the 2026 World Cup format: 48 teams, 12 groups and a knockout stage all the way to the final.
Teams
48
Groups
12 (A–L)
Teams per group
4
Group stage
- 48 teams in 12 groups A–L with 4 teams each.
- Every team plays three group matches.
- Points: Win = 3 points · Draw = 1 point · Loss = 0 points.
- Knockout qualification: the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams.
Knockout stage
- 1Round of 32
- 2Round of 16
- 3Quarter-finals
- 4Semi-finals
- 5Third-place match
- 6Final
In the knockout stage, a tie after 90 minutes is decided by extra time. If still level afterwards, the match is decided by a penalty shoot-out.