There are 32 matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, including the third-place match.
The expanded tournament sends 32 teams into a single-elimination bracket: 16 matches in the round of 32, eight in the round of 16, four quarterfinals, two semifinals, the third-place match, and the final. Added together, those rounds total 32 matches.
This number can be confused with the 16 knockout matches used at the 32-team World Cups held from 1998 through 2022. The 2026 edition expands the field to 48 teams, with the top two teams from each of 12 groups and the eight best third-place teams advancing.
The third-place match is counted because it is an official fixture in the tournament schedule, even though it does not affect the champion. Excluding it would leave 31 knockout-stage matches.