What’s the Format For the 2026 World Cup?

How does an additional round of win-or-go-home matches sound?

That’s what you can look forward to for the World Cup 2026, which will feature a Round of 32 for the first time. 

That’s because the tournament has increased its number of participants from 32 to 48.

What’s the Format For the 2026 World Cup?

The format remains the same as previous World Cup tournaments, with 16 additional teams added. The 48 participating teams will be divided into 12 groups, with the top two finishers in each group securing guaranteed advancement into the knockout phase. 

The eight best third-place finishers will also book their place in the win-or-go-home stage of the tournament. 

The 32 teams in the Round of 32 will then be whittled down to 16 and so on.

If a match is tied at the end of regulation in the knockout phase, two 15-minute halves are played, called extra time, to try to settle it. If the match remains tied after 120 minutes, penalty kicks will decide it. 

The World Cup odds favourites often secure first place in the group stage. That usually facilitates a Round of 32 matchup against teams with longer soccer odds at the BetMGM sportsbook, which aren’t expected to advance deep into the tournament. 

How Many Teams Are in the 2026 World Cup?

There are 48 teams in the 2026 World Cup, 16 more than previous iterations.

How Many Total World Cup Matches Will Be Played?

The 2026 World Cup consists of 104 matches over the course of a month, starting on June 11 and culminating on July 19. 

World Cup Betting Odds 2026