FIFA World Cup 2026: How it works and what changes

The 2026 World Cup marks a before and after in World Cup history. Not only does it increase the number of teams, but it also changes the competition format and tie-breaking criteria.

Venues and dates

Host countries: United States, Mexico, and Canada
Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
This is the first World Cup organized by three countries at the same time

Number of teams

48 teams participate (previously 32)
They are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams

Group stage

Each team plays 3 matches (one against each rival in the group).

Win: 3 points
Draw: 1 point
Loss: 0 points

Advance to the next phase:

The 2 first place teams from each group (24 teams)
The 8 best third-place teams

In total, 32 teams advance to the knockout phase.

Tiebreakers in the group stage

In the 2026 World Cup, the main tie-breaking criterion is head-to-head.

Priority 1: Head-to-head

If two or more teams are tied on points, first we analyze only what happened between them:

Points obtained in matches between the tied teams
Goal difference in those matches
Goals scored in those matches

If one team beat the other, it ranks higher in the table, even if it has a worse total goal difference or fewer goals scored.

Priority 2: General statistics

Total goal difference in the group
Total goals scored
Fair Play (yellow and red cards)

Priority 3: FIFA Ranking

If the tie persists, the FIFA Ranking is used as the last criterion.

Knockout phase

Unlike other World Cups, it does not go directly to the round of 16.

Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Third-place match
Final

Extra time: two 15-minute periods
Penalties if the tie continues

Summary

It is the World Cup with the most teams and most matches in history
Head-to-head is the most important criterion in ties
Direct performance between rivals is prioritized
The tournament is longer and more competitive than ever