The FIFA World Cup has had a Round of 32 only in 2026 so far. The 1998 to 2022 tournaments used a Round of 16 instead, and the new Round of 32 was introduced with the expanded 48-team format in 2026.

Quick answer

  • Number of World Cups with a Round of 32: 1.
  • Which one: 2026.
  • Why only one: Earlier modern World Cups did not have that knockout round; they went from the group stage to a Round of 16.

Simple breakdown

World Cup era| Knockout round after groups| Round of 32?
---|---|---
1998–2022| Round of 16| No 87
2026| Round of 32| Yes 8

In one line

So the answer is: 1 World Cup has had a Round of 32, and that is the 2026 tournament.