7 June 2026
How does the World Cup work? A simple guide
If you are new to it, here is how the 2026 World Cup works from first whistle to final.
48
Teams
12
Groups of 4
104
Matches
1
Champion
Group stage
The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. Everyone plays the other three in their group once. Win = 3 points, draw = 1, loss = 0.
Reaching the knockouts
The top two from every group advance, plus the eight best third-placed teams — 32 teams in total. From there it is straight knockout: Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. Lose and you are out.
Think you can call it?
Make your group picks or fill the full knockout bracket — free, no sign-up.