The Groups

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How Teams Advance

48 Teams
12 Groups of 4
32 Advance
1 Champion

Automatic Qualification

The top 2 teams in each of the 12 groups advance automatically to the Round of 32 — that's 24 guaranteed spots.

Best Third-Place Teams

The 8 best third-place finishers from across all 12 groups also advance, filling the 32-team bracket. Finishing third isn't elimination — it's a fight to be among the top 8 thirds.

Points System

Win = 3 pts  ·  Draw = 1 pt  ·  Loss = 0 pts. Each team plays 3 group-stage matches. Maximum 9 points possible.

Tiebreaker Rules

When two or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until the tie is broken:

  1. Goal difference across all group matches
  2. Goals scored across all group matches
  3. Head-to-head points between the tied teams
  4. Head-to-head goal difference between the tied teams
  5. Head-to-head goals scored between the tied teams
  6. Disciplinary record (yellow and red cards)
  7. FIFA World Ranking at time of draw

For third-place comparison across groups: teams are ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary record, then FIFA ranking.