How It Works

WC 2026 Tournament Format
Group Stage

48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays all 3 others in their group. Teams earn 3 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw, 0 for a loss.

Who Advances

32 of 48 teams advance to the knockout round:

  • The top 2 teams from each of the 12 groups advance automatically (24 teams)
  • The 8 best 3rd-place finishers across all groups also advance

3rd-place teams are ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored. A 3rd-place team with 4+ points almost always qualifies.

Knockout Rounds
Round of 3232 teams → 16
Round of 1616 teams → 8
Quarter-finals8 teams → 4
Semi-finals4 teams → 2
3rd Place MatchLosers of semis
FinalChampion crowned

Knockout games that are level after 90 minutes go to extra time, then penalties if still tied. No draws.

Draft Scoring

Each bidder owns 8 teams. Points accumulate as your teams progress through the tournament. A bidder's total score is the sum of all points earned across their roster.

Group Stage
Advance to Round of 32 +2 pts
Win the group outright (1st place) +2 pts
Knockout Rounds

Points are awarded for each knockout win, not just for appearing in the round.

Win Round of 32 +4 pts
Win Round of 16 +6 pts
Win Quarter-final +8 pts
Win Semi-final +15 pts
Win the Final (Champion) +25 pts
Maximum possible per team: A team that wins the group and lifts the trophy earns 2 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 15 + 25 = 62 pts. A bidder with the champion on their roster starts collecting real points in the final week of June.
Scoring Timeline
Jun 11 – Jun 27
Group stage. Rankings stay at 0 until each group completes all 3 rounds. Group advancement and group winner points are credited once a team's 3rd game is final.
Late Jun – Early Jul
Round of 32 and Round of 16. The bracket fills in. Each knockout win credits the bidder immediately after the final whistle.
Jul – Final
Quarter-finals through the Final. The semi-final (+15) and Final (+25) bonuses mean the leaderboard can swing dramatically in the last two rounds.