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Understanding the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Tournament

soccer player wearing a red uniform and kicking a ball in a stadium

The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is set to be the biggest and most expansive tournament in history. For the first time ever, the event will feature 48 teams, welcoming more nations and creating a truly global celebration of soccer. With this monumental change comes a new format, and to help you understand every detail, we've put together a simple guide explaining how each round of the tournament will work, from the group stage to the final match.

Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™

The road to the FIFA World Cup™ starts long before the main tournament. Each of the 48 teams earns its spot through its respective confederation’s qualification process.

Here are each confederation's allotted slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™:

  • UEFA (Europe): 16 spots

  • CAF (Africa): 9 spots

  • AFC (Asia): 8 spots

  • CONCACAF (North/Central America, Caribbean): 6 spots - including 3 host nations

  • CONMEBOL (South America): 6 spots

  • OFC (Oceania): 1 spot

Additionally, two final spots will be decided through the intercontinental playoff tournament, rounding out the 48 teams.

Learn more about How Tournament Qualifying Works >

Updated Format

The most important factor of the 2026 tournament is the expansion to 48 teams instead of the typical 32, leading to a record 104 games, 40 more than the 2022 championship. This new structure introduces an additional knockout round and increases the total number of matches played.

Group Stage

After the final draw and the 48 teams are organized into their 12 groups of four, the group stage of the tournament will begin. The host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the USA—have already automatically qualified for the group stage.

How it Works

  • Round-Robin: Each team will play one match against the other three teams in its group.

  • Points System: Teams will earn points for each match.

    • 3 points for a win

    • 1 point for a draw

    • 0 points for a loss

  • Next Round: The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will automatically advance. The eight best 3rd-place teams will also advance, filling the 32 slots for the knockout stage.

Knockout Stage

The knockout stage is the single-elimination phase of the championship. If a team wins, they will automatically advance to the next round; a single loss results in elimination from the entire event.

How it Works

  • Round of 32: Incorporating a Round of 32 for the first time since 1994, the 12 group winners, 12 group runners-up, and eight third-best teams will compete in 16 matches. The matchups for this round will be predetermined through a bracket.

  • Round of 16: The 16 winners from the Round of 32 will advance to the next round.

  • Quarter-Finals: The eight winners from the Round of 16 will compete in four matches.

  • Semi-Finals: The four winners from the Quarter-Finals will play in two matches.

  • Third-Place Playoff: The two teams who lose their Semi-Final matches will play for third place.

  • Finals: The two semi-final winners will compete for the FIFA World Cup™ title.

Ties in the FIFA World Cup™

With over 100 matches, ties between teams are inevitable. Here's how each stage deals with a match draw:

Group Stage Tie

If the match ends in a tie, both teams receive one point. If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the Group Stage, their final ranking is determined by tie-breaking criteria set in place by FIFA.

  • Head-to-Head Points: Number of points obtained in the matches between the teams that are tied.

  • Head-to-Head Goal Difference: Goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams that are tied.

  • Head-to-Head Goals Scored: Number of goals scored in the matches between the teams that are tied.

If teams are still tied after the initial tie-breaking criteria, the following are applied:

  • Overall Goal Difference: Goal difference from all group matches.

  • Overall Goals Scored: Number of goals scored in all group matches.

  • Fair Play Points: Team's disciplinary record, based on the fewest yellow and red cards.

  • Drawing of Lots: If all other criteria fail to end the tie, a drawing of lots will determine the final ranking.

Knockout Stage Tie

After 90 minutes of regulation time, if the match is still tied, the game will go into extra time, which consists of two 15-minute halves. If the score is still tied after extra time, the match results in a penalty shootout. Each team will take five kicks; if the score remains tied, they move into a sudden-death format until a team scores, thus becoming the winner.

As the world's biggest tournament expands, so does the excitement. With more nations competing and more matches to follow, the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is set to bring can't-miss moments. Whether you're cheering from home or the stands, make sure you're ready for every match by gearing up with fan essentials from your local SCHEELS.