2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage
The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. Played from June 28 to July 19, the knockout stage will end with the final, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1][2][3] The top two teams from each group and eight best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There will be 32 matches in the knockout stage, including a third place playoff played between the two losing teams in the semifinals.[4][5]
Format
[edit]The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be contested between 32 teams that qualified from the group stage. Matches in the knockout stage will be played to a finish. If the score is level at the end of 90 minutes of playing time, extra time will be played. If, after two periods of 15 minutes, the score is still tied, the result will determined by a penalty shootout.
Qualifying teams
[edit]The top two placed teams from each of the twelve groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will qualify for the knockout stage.
Group | Winners | Runners-up | Third-placed teams (Best eight qualify) |
---|---|---|---|
A | TBD | TBD | |
B | TBD | TBD | |
C | TBD | TBD | |
D | TBD | TBD | |
E | TBD | TBD | |
F | TBD | TBD | |
G | TBD | TBD | |
H | TBD | TBD | |
I | TBD | TBD | |
J | TBD | TBD | |
K | TBD | TBD | |
L | TBD | TBD |
Bracket
[edit]Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||
June 29 – Foxborough | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group E | ||||||||||||||||||
July 4 – Philadelphia | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group A/B/C/D/F | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 74 | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 77 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group I | ||||||||||||||||||
July 9 – Foxborough | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group C/D/F/G/H | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
June 28 – Inglewood | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group A | ||||||||||||||||||
July 4 – Houston | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group B | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 73 | ||||||||||||||||||
June 29 – Guadalupe | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 75 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group F | ||||||||||||||||||
July 14 – Arlington | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group C | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 97 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 2 – Toronto | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 98 | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group K | ||||||||||||||||||
July 6 – Arlington | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group L | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 83 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 2 – Inglewood | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 84 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group H | ||||||||||||||||||
July 10 – Inglewood | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group J | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 93 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 1 – Santa Clara | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 94 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group D | ||||||||||||||||||
July 6 – Seattle | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group B/E/F/I/J | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 81 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 1 – Seattle | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group G | ||||||||||||||||||
July 19 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group A/E/H/I/J | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 101 | ||||||||||||||||||
June 29 – Houston | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 102 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group C | ||||||||||||||||||
July 5 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group F | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 76 | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30 – Arlington | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group E | ||||||||||||||||||
July 11 – Miami Gardens | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group I | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 91 | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30 – Mexico City | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group A | ||||||||||||||||||
July 5 – Mexico City | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group C/E/F/H/I | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 79 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 1 – Atlanta | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 80 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group L | ||||||||||||||||||
July 15 – Atlanta | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group E/H/I/J/K | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 99 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 3 – Miami Gardens | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 100 | Third place playoff | |||||||||||||||||
Winner Group J | ||||||||||||||||||
July 7 – Atlanta | July 18 – Miami Gardens | |||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group H | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 86 | Loser Match 101 | |||||||||||||||||
July 3 – Arlington | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 88 | Loser Match 102 | |||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group D | ||||||||||||||||||
July 11 – Kansas City | ||||||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group G | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 95 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 2 – Vancouver | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 96 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group B | ||||||||||||||||||
July 7 – Vancouver | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group E/F/G/I/J | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 85 | ||||||||||||||||||
July 3 – Kansas City | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Match 87 | ||||||||||||||||||
Winner Group K | ||||||||||||||||||
3rd Group D/E/I/J/L | ||||||||||||||||||
Round of 32
[edit]Runner-up Group A | Match 73 | Runner-up Group B |
---|---|---|
Winner Group E | Match 74 | 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F |
---|---|---|
Winner Group F | Match 75 | Runner-up Group C |
---|---|---|
Winner Group C | Match 76 | Runner-up Group F |
---|---|---|
Winner Group I | Match 77 | 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H |
---|---|---|
Runner-up Group E | Match 78 | Runner-up Group I |
---|---|---|
Winner Group A | Match 79 | 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I |
---|---|---|
Winner Group L | Match 80 | 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K |
---|---|---|
Winner Group D | Match 81 | 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J |
---|---|---|
Winner Group G | Match 82 | 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J |
---|---|---|
Winner Group H | Match 84 | Runner-up Group J |
---|---|---|
Winner Group J | Match 86 | Runner-up Group H |
---|---|---|
Winner Group K | Match 87 | 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L |
---|---|---|
Runner-up Group D | Match 88 | Runner-up Group G |
---|---|---|
Round of 16
[edit]Winner Match 74 | Match 89 | Winner Match 77 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 73 | Match 90 | Winner Match 75 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 76 | Match 91 | Winner Match 78 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 79 | Match 92 | Winner Match 80 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 83 | Match 93 | Winner Match 84 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 81 | Match 94 | Winner Match 82 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 86 | Match 95 | Winner Match 88 |
---|---|---|
Quarterfinals
[edit]Winner Match 89 | Match 97 | Winner Match 90 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 93 | Match 98 | Winner Match 94 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 91 | Match 99 | Winner Match 92 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 95 | Match 100 | Winner Match 96 |
---|---|---|
Semifinals
[edit]Winner Match 97 | Match 101 | Winner Match 98 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 99 | Match 102 | Winner Match 100 |
---|---|---|
Third place playoff
[edit]Loser Match 101 | Match 103 | Loser Match 102 |
---|---|---|
Final
[edit]Winner Match 101 | Match 104 | Winner Match 102 |
---|---|---|
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "FIFA World Cup 26 – Match Schedule" (PDF). FIFA. February 4, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ Conway, Richard (June 13, 2018). "World Cup 2026: How US, Canada & Mexico won right to host tournament". BBC Sport. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Sherman, Ted (September 23, 2021). "Will MetLife Stadium be home to the 2026 World Cup finals? N.Y. and N.J. hope to score a slot with FIFA". NJ.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Panja, Tariq; Das, Andrew (June 13, 2018). "World Cup 2026: United States, Canada and Mexico Win Bid to Be Host". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Belam, Martin (June 13, 2018). "Three hosts, 48 teams: how the 2026 World Cup will work". The Guardian. Retrieved January 18, 2024.