World Cup Groups 2026
12 groups · 48 teams · Group stage: Jun 11 – Jul 4, 2026
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How do the 2026 World Cup groups work?
The 2026 World Cup is the first in history with 12 groups of 4 teams (48 teams total). Each group plays 6 matches in a round-robin format. The top 2 from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to the new Round of 32, debuting in this edition.
Tiebreaker criteria within the group: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) head-to-head result, 5) fair play record, and as a last resort, drawing of lots.