After the group stage, the World Cup moves into the knockout rounds. In the current 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place teams advance to the round of 32, then the tournament continues to the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, a third-place playoff, and the final.

What comes next

  1. Round of 32.
  2. Round of 16.
  3. Quarterfinals.
  4. Semifinals.
  5. Third-place match.
  6. Final.

How teams advance

  • First and second place in each group qualify automatically.
  • Eight third-place teams also move on, based on points, goal difference, goals scored, fair play, and then FIFA rankings if needed.
  • The knockout bracket is then set, and every match is single-elimination: lose once, and you’re out.

Simple example

If a team finishes second in its group, it goes straight into the round of 32. If a team finishes third, it may still advance if its record is strong enough compared with other third-place teams.

Timing

For the 2026 World Cup, the round of 32 runs from June 28 to July 3, followed by the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, the bronze medal match, and the final on July 19.