What new knockout round appeared in the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup format?

The new knockout round in the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup format is the round of 32.

Earlier editions with 32 teams moved from the group stage directly to a round of 16. In 2026, FIFA expands the competition to 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, creating a larger qualifying pool for the elimination bracket.

The top two teams in each group qualify automatically, and the eight best third-place teams also advance. That produces 32 knockout-stage teams, which begin with 16 matches in the newly introduced round of 32.

The round of 32 is sometimes confused with a “round of 48,” but the 48-team figure describes the overall tournament field, not a knockout round. After the new opening elimination round, the competition continues with the familiar round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.