Knockout stage
For the first time in World Cup history, the knockout stage opens with a Round of 32 featuring 32 teams: the top two from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed sides. Five rounds, 32 matches, and a final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium.
El cuadro del Mundial 2026 con los equipos reales, sus marcadores y el ganador de cada cruce, actualizado en directo hasta la final del 19 de julio en Nueva York/Nueva Jersey.
The 2026 World Cup launches a new format: 48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4. Each group sends its top two directly to the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups round out the 32-team knockout. Tie-breaking is by points, goal difference, goals scored and, if still level, a public draw.
Round-of-32 pairings follow FIFA\'s pre-determined bracket from the December 5, 2025 draw in Las Vegas: the Group A winner faces the Group B runner-up, the C winner faces the D runner-up, and so on. Third-placed qualifiers slot into the open positions per the priority system FIFA published with the draw.
Once the bracket is drawn there are no re-draws: winners advance through fixed branches to the final. The upper bracket (top half) reaches the final via Atlanta; the lower bracket (bottom half) via Dallas.
All 12 groups with every match and kick-off time.
VerStadiums, cities, capacities and assigned matches.
VerAll 104 matches day by day with local and Madrid time.
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