- By Samannay Sen
- Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
FIFA World Cup 2026: The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway, and so is the race to football's biggest stage. Fans are all ready to witness their idols play for their countries on the global stage. But this year, the FIFA World Cup has changed and has become tougher. For the first time, 48 teams will take part in the marquee event, making it more complex.
With the addition of more teams, the road to the finale has also become longer. An additional knockout round has been added to the tournament's schedule, which means that now teams will have to play one more round of the knockout stage. The new format has also taken the total matches from 64 to 104, making it the longest FIFA World Cup.
Now, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, here is a breakdown of how teams can qualify for the final, and what the new tournament format means for their journey?
FIFA World Cup 2026: New Format And Qualification Process
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams, an increase from the traditional 32-team format. The participating nations have been divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Every team will play three group-stage matches, and the top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the knockout rounds.
They will be joined by the eight best third-placed teams, taking the total number of teams in the knockout stage to 32. Unlike previous World Cups, the tournament will now include an additional knockout round, the Round of 32. This means teams aiming to become world champions must win five consecutive knockout matches after progressing from the group stage.
The knockout journey begins in the Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finally the World Cup final. If a knockout match ends level after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties will be used to determine the winner.
To reach the final, a team can finish either first or second in its group or even advance as one of the best third-placed sides. However, the route becomes significantly tougher depending on the team's finishing position, with stronger opponents potentially awaiting in the knockout bracket. The enlarged format increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104, making FIFA World Cup 2026 the biggest edition ever staged.
With more teams, more games, and more opportunities for underdogs to shine, the road to the final has become longer and more challenging. Also, it gives many teams a chance to grab a spot in the knockouts.