Everything you need to know about the new 48-team format
How the expanded tournament works and what it means for predictions.
The 2026 World Cup introduces the most significant format change in the tournament's history. With 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, the group stage remains familiar — but the knockout rounds are entirely new.
The top two teams from each group advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams, creating a 32-team knockout bracket. This means more matches, more variables, and more opportunities for upsets.
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