how will it be decided what teams make the second round

The second round is usually decided by the bracket rules of the specific tournament or league: in some formats, the winners from the first round face each other, and in others, teams advance based on group standings, points, or tie-breakers. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the two top teams in each group advance automatically, and the eight best third-place teams also move on to the Round of 32.

How it works

In a group-stage format, teams earn points in their group matches, and the teams with the best records move forward. If teams are tied, tie-breakers are used to decide who advances.

For knockout brackets

In a pure playoff bracket, the second round is determined by who wins the opening round, then the remaining teams are reseeded or matched according to the bracket rules. That means the “second round” is not chosen separately; it is the result of first-round outcomes.

World Cup example

For the current World Cup format, the top two teams in each group advance, plus the eight best third-place teams. That creates the Round of 32, where the matchups are then set by the tournament bracket.

TL;DR

Teams make the second round either by finishing high enough in group play or by winning the first round of a knockout bracket, depending on the competition’s format.