World Cup Bracket Maker - Knockout Stage
Build the full FIFA World Cup draw. Pre-loaded with the classic 32-team group→knockout format: 8 groups of 4, top 2 advance to a 16-team knockout. Group winners and runners-up are drawn into opposite halves, so two teams from the same group can only meet again in the Final. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar used this format; the 2026 World Cup (USA, Canada, Mexico), running 11 June to 19 July 2026, expands the field to 48 teams with an added Round of 32.
World Cup Knockout Stage
From 32 to 1 in 4 Rounds
- -32 teams in 8 groups of 4 (group stage, 48 matches)
- -Top 2 from each group advance to the knockout stage (16 teams)
- -Round of 16 (8 matches), Quarterfinals (4), Semifinals (2)
- -Third-place playoff (1 match) and Final (1 match)
- -Knockout matches go to extra time then penalty shootout if tied
Knockout-Stage Match Count
2026 World Cup: 48-Team Format
The 2026 World Cup is the first tournament with 48 teams. The format is 12 groups of 4 teams (group stage), with the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advancing to a 32-team knockout stage. That produces 104 total matches: 72 group-stage matches plus 32 knockout matches (Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third-place playoff, Final).
The tournament is co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with most matches in the USA, and the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July 2026. The Round of 32 runs 28 June to 3 July. To build a 2026 bracket, set the tool to 32 teams and use the knockout-stage layout, or enter the 16 quarterfinalists once the Round of 32 plays out.
Tiebreak Rules in Knockout Matches
Extra Time
Two 15-minute halves of extra time if the score is level after 90 minutes. The full 30 minutes is played; no golden-goal rule.
Penalty Shootout
If still level after extra time, a penalty shootout decides the match. Best-of-5 kicks, then sudden death.
Away Goals (Abolished)
The away-goals rule no longer applies in the World Cup knockout stage. UEFA abolished away goals from the 2021-22 Champions League onwards; FIFA already did not use the rule at the World Cup.