World Cup 2026 knockout bracket explained
After the group stage, 32 teams enter a single-elimination bracket. Win and you go through; lose and you're out. It runs from the new Round of 32 to the final on 19 July 2026.
What are the knockout rounds?
With 48 teams the 2026 World Cup adds a round at the start of the bracket:
- Round of 32 — 32 teams, 16 matches (new for 2026)
- Round of 16 — 16 teams, 8 matches
- Quarter-finals — 8 teams, 4 matches
- Semi-finals — 4 teams, 2 matches
- Third-place play-off — the two losing semi-finalists
- Final — at MetLife Stadium near New York, 19 July 2026
Follow the live bracket as it fills in on the World Cup 2026 hub.
What happens if a knockout match is a draw?
Knockout matches must produce a winner. If the score is level after 90 minutes:
- Extra time — two further periods of 15 minutes each.
- Penalty shootout — if still level after extra time, each team takes penalties (best of five, then sudden death) to decide who advances.
See the glossary for extra time and penalty shootout definitions.
The World Cup 2026, live right now
This section updates automatically from LiveGoal's live data — see the full World Cup 2026 table, fixtures and results.
Next fixtures
- South Korea vs Czechia — 12 Jun, 02:00 UTC
- Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina — 12 Jun, 19:00 UTC
- United States vs Paraguay — 13 Jun, 01:00 UTC
- Qatar vs Switzerland — 13 Jun, 19:00 UTC
- Brazil vs Morocco — 13 Jun, 22:00 UTC
- Haiti vs Scotland — 14 Jun, 01:00 UTC
Group leaders
| Group | Leader | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico | 3 |
| Group B | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 0 |
| Group C | Brazil | 0 |
| Group D | Australia | 0 |
| Group E | Curaçao | 0 |
| Group F | Japan | 0 |
| Group G | Egypt | 0 |
| Group H | Cape Verde Islands | 0 |
| Group I | France | 0 |
| Group J | Algeria | 0 |
| Group K | Congo DR | 0 |
| Group L | England | 0 |
Standings updated 21:22, 11 Jun 2026 UTC.
How do teams reach the knockouts?
The top two from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed teams qualify — read how teams qualify, or the overall 2026 World Cup format.