World Cup 2026 bracket — knockout route to the final
For the first time the World Cup has a 32-team knockout stage: the top two from each of the 12 groups plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32. From there it is single-elimination — Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey). Matchups below fill in automatically as group results come in.
Knockout rounds — dates, venues and matchups
Live matchups from football-data.org — updated through the tournament.
Round of 32 Jun 28 – Jul 3 16 matches
Top 2 from each group + 8 best third-placed teams. First-ever 32-team knockout round.
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
Round of 16 Jul 4 – Jul 7 8 matches
Winners of the Round of 32 advance.
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
Quarter-finals Jul 9 – Jul 11 4 matches
Venues include AT&T (Arlington), SoFi (Inglewood), Mercedes-Benz (Atlanta), Gillette (Boston).
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
Semi-finals Jul 14 – Jul 15 2 matches
MetLife (New York/New Jersey) and AT&T (Arlington).
- TBD v TBD
- TBD v TBD
Third-place play-off Jul 18 1 match
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
- TBD v TBD
Final Jul 19 1 match
MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey — kick-off 15:00 ET.
- TBD v TBD
How the 8 best third-placed teams are decided
With 12 groups of four, the two group winners and runners-up give 24 qualifiers. The bracket is completed by the 8 best third-placed teams, ranked across all groups by: (1) points, (2) goal difference, (3) goals scored, (4) disciplinary record, (5) drawing of lots. This is why a third-place finish is a live betting market in its own right — "to qualify for the knockouts" lines stay open right up to the final group matches. Track the live group tables on our standings page.
Betting the bracket — outright and round-by-round
The knockout bracket reshapes the outright market. Teams on the "soft" side of the draw are priced shorter to reach the final than their win-the-tournament odds imply — which is why "to reach the final" is often better value than the outright. See the full winner odds board and our editor's best bets. For in-play knockout ties — where extra time and penalties change cash-out value — read the live-betting guide.
World Cup 2026 bracket FAQ
When does the World Cup 2026 knockout stage start?
The Round of 32 begins on June 28, 2026, two days after the final group games. The knockout stage runs through to the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
How many teams reach the knockout stage?
32 of the 48 teams: the top two from each of the 12 groups (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams across all groups.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final?
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York/New Jersey metro), on July 19, 2026, kick-off 15:00 ET.
Is there extra time and penalties in the knockouts?
Yes. From the Round of 32 onward, a tie level after 90 minutes goes to 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out if still level. This matters for betting — most match-result markets are for 90 minutes only unless stated otherwise.
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