Tournament
Format, stages, and key dates.
World Cup 2026 expands to 48 teams and 104 matches. The group stage creates a broad route into a Round of 32 before the traditional knockout path begins to tighten.
Progression
How teams move through the tournament.
Group stage
Each team plays three matches. The top two from each group advance automatically.
Best third-place teams
Eight of the twelve third-place teams also enter the Round of 32.
Knockout rounds
Single-elimination rounds run from the Round of 32 through the final weekend.
Calendar
Tournament timeline.
Opening match
Mexico opens the tournament in Mexico City.
Group stage
Twelve groups of four teams play across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Round of 32
The top two from each group and the eight best third-place teams move on.
Round of 16
The field narrows from sixteen teams to eight.
Quarter-finals
Four matches decide the semi-finalists.
Semi-finals
The last four teams compete for a place in the final.
Third-place match
The bronze medal match takes place one day before the final.
Final
The world champion is crowned in New York/New Jersey.