FIFA World Cup 2026 · First-Ever 48-Team Format

Build Your World Cup 2026 Bracket.
Simulate the Whole Playoff.

Drag, click, predict. The new Round of 32 means 16 knockout matches before the quarterfinals — more upsets, more drama, more bracket math than any World Cup in history.

Open Bracket Builder Browse What-If Scenarios
48Teams
12Groups
16R32 Ties
104Total Matches

Round of 32 Bracket Builder

Click the team you think wins each match. Picks flow through every round to the final. Try your own gut call or hit Simulate for a randomised playoff.

Projected Champion
Complete the bracket to crown a winner

What-If Scenarios

Auto-generated playoff stories — pick one to instantly load it into the bracket above.

The New Math

Why the Round of 32 changes everything

The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams. Twelve groups of four send their top two plus the eight best third-placed sides into a brand-new Round of 32. That means 16 extra knockout games, eight more days of bracket chaos, and a real chance for underdogs to ride a hot streak deep into June and July.

  • 32 teams advance to the knockout stage — up from 16.
  • Group winners avoid each other until the Round of 16.
  • 104 matches in total — the longest World Cup ever.
  • The final is in MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026.
Schedule snapshot
Group StageJun 11 — Jun 27
Round of 32Jun 28 — Jul 3
Round of 16Jul 4 — Jul 7
QuarterfinalsJul 9 — Jul 11
SemifinalsJul 14 — Jul 15
Third PlaceJul 18
FinalJul 19, 2026
Aerial view of a football pitch

How to use the bracket builder

Three steps, no sign-up, picks saved in your browser.

01

Click your winners

Tap the team you think will advance in each Round of 32 match. Your pick auto-fills the next round.

02

Run the simulator

Hit Simulate to let the engine roll out a randomised playoff weighted by FIFA ranking and recent form.

03

Lock in a champion

Copy your picks, share them with friends, or come back later — your bracket is remembered locally.

Get push alerts when the bracket changes

We’ll ping you on match day with a fresh predictor link and any major upset that breaks your bracket.

Go to Contact & Alerts