Inside the 48-team format: what changes for fans

FIFA's 48-team expansion changes the math of the World Cup. Each group has four teams; the top two and the eight best third-place finishers advance to a Round of 32 — a stage that has never existed in the men's World Cup before. The path to the Final now requires eight wins (or successful tie-breakers) instead of seven. Knockout matches will be played across the United States, with the Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026.