Group stage draw format: 12 groups of four teams
June 10, 2026 ยท By yayscore Newsroom
Updated:
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The 48 nations are drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two and the best eight third-placed sides advancing.
Each group plays a single round-robin, producing 72 group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group automatically reach the round of 32.
The eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also advance, giving 32 sides in the first knockout round.
This format borrows from the expanded UEFA Euro group stage but on a much larger scale.