In the 2026 World Cup, 32 teams advance out of the group stage into the knockout round.

How it works

The tournament now has a round of 32, so the group stage narrows the field from 48 teams down to 32.

Why people are asking

This format includes more knockout spots than the old 32-team World Cup, which is why third-place teams can still qualify in some groups.

TL;DR

  • Teams moving on: 32.
  • Next stage: Round of 32.
  • Format twist: some third-place teams can still advance.