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Before any team can advance in the World Cup, it must first survive the tournament's group stage.
This year's group stage will be different because of the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams.
Starting with the 1998 tournament in France, when the field expanded to 32, teams were divided into eight groups of four. The top two from each group advanced to the round of 16.
The World Cup's expansion gives teams that start poorly a chance to come back and still make the knockout stage.
Here is how the group stage works for the 2026 World Cup:
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage will begin with the round of 32 for the first time.
In each of the 12 groups, the group winners and the second-place teams will advance. The eight best three-place teams in those groups will also make the next round.
The third-place teams will be determined by these factors (three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss):
Because there is a chance there will be tiebreakers, if three or more teams finish with the same number of group stage points, the following tiebreakers will apply:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup: How does the group stage work?
Continue reading...
This year's group stage will be different because of the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams.
Starting with the 1998 tournament in France, when the field expanded to 32, teams were divided into eight groups of four. The top two from each group advanced to the round of 16.
The World Cup's expansion gives teams that start poorly a chance to come back and still make the knockout stage.
Here is how the group stage works for the 2026 World Cup:
World Cup group stage explained
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage will begin with the round of 32 for the first time.
In each of the 12 groups, the group winners and the second-place teams will advance. The eight best three-place teams in those groups will also make the next round.
The third-place teams will be determined by these factors (three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss):
- Points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Team conduct score
- FIFA world ranking
Because there is a chance there will be tiebreakers, if three or more teams finish with the same number of group stage points, the following tiebreakers will apply:
- Most points obtained in the group matches played between the teams concerned
- Superior goal difference in the group matches played between the teams concerned
- Most goals scored in the group matches played between the teams concerned
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup: How does the group stage work?
Continue reading...
