May 4, 2026
The World Cup 2026 knockout bracket starts with a Round of 32. The qualified teams come from group winners, runners-up, and the best third-place teams.
Because the bracket is larger than older World Cups, group position has a bigger effect on the route. A team can still qualify from third place, but the path may become much harder immediately.
When making predictions, compare the bracket after every group-stage change. A small move in Group A or Group B can change the final path for several teams.