The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marking the first time the tournament is staged across three countries. Taking place next summer, the expanded competition will feature a record-breaking 104 matches played over approximately five and a half weeks, making it the biggest World Cup in history.
With a brand-new format and more teams involved than ever before, many fans are asking one key question: how exactly does the 2026 World Cup work?
This 2026 World Cup Schedule Template that you can use with Excel will help you to see schedule and understand how the new format works. It has automated group standings calculation that will reveal 32 teams that will compete in Knock Out rounds.
How Many Groups Are There at the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup group stage will consist of 12 groups, each containing four teams. This format closely resembles the structure used in recent UEFA European Championships, but on a much larger scale (24 teams in Euro, 48 teams in World Cup). It also has been implemented in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup without applying tie-breaker rules for Best third-place teams.
Group Stage Rules Explained
- Each team plays three matches, facing every other team in their group once.
- The top two teams in each group automatically advance to the Round of 32.
- That accounts for 24 teams.
- The remaining eight knockout spots are awarded to the best third-placed teams across all groups.
This expanded setup allows 32 teams to progress to the knockout phase.
How Are Group Standings Decided?
Teams earn:
- 3 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
If two or more teams finish level on points, FIFA applies the following tiebreakers, in order:
- Points earned in head-to-head matches
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches
- Overall goal difference in all group games
- Total goals scored in all group games
- Disciplinary record (yellow and red cards)
- Latest FIFA world ranking
- Previous FIFA rankings (if still tied)
How Are the Best Third-Placed Teams Ranked?
To determine which third-placed teams advance, FIFA ranks all 12 teams in a single table using these criteria:
- Total points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Disciplinary record
- Most recent FIFA world ranking
- Earlier FIFA rankings if required
This system means a team could theoretically earn more points than another third-placed team in a different group and still be eliminated—something that has happened in past tournaments, such as Euro 2024.
How Does the World Cup 2026 Knockout Draw Work?
Unlike earlier World Cups, the knockout stage pathway is pre-determined once the group draw is completed. Teams will know their potential opponents all the way through to the final, depending on their finishing position in the group stage.
How Many Knockout Rounds Are There at World Cup 2026?
There are five knockout rounds in total:
Knockout Stage Schedule
- Round of 32: 16 matches (June 29 – July 3)
- Round of 16: 8 matches (July 5 – July 7)
- Quarter-finals: 4 matches (July 9 – July 11)
- Semi-finals: 2 matches (July 14 & July 15)
- Third-Place Play-Off: 1 match (July 18)
- Final: 1 match (July 19)
Final Thoughts
With 48 teams, 104 matches, and a completely redesigned tournament structure, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises more drama, more football, and more opportunities for nations to make history than ever before.
Whether you’re tracking the group stage rules, planning around the knockout rounds, or preparing for the official draw, understanding the new format is essential for following the biggest World Cup yet. And this 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule and Scoresheet Template should help you tracking your favorite team without thinking too much on its new tournament tie-breaker format.
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule and Scoresheet Template will be available by March 2026 after all participants are set completely.
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