how many teams are in knock out round for world cup
The World Cup knockout round has 32 teams in the 2026 format.
How it works
- The tournament starts with 48 teams in the group stage.
- 32 teams advance to the knockout stage.
- That first knockout round is the Round of 32.
Quick note
- In earlier World Cups with 32 total teams, the knockout stage began with 16 teams.
- In 2026, the expanded format adds a full extra knockout round.
| Stage | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group stage | 48 |
| Knockout stage starts with | 32 |
| First knockout round | Round of 32 |
