The short answer is: yes, beginning with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there will be a Round of 32. AdiyaBall will walk you through exactly what that means, how it works, what’s new compared with earlier tournaments, and why fans are talking about it so much.
What Is Changing in World Cup Format for 2026
The 2026 edition marks a major shift in the structure of the World Cup. After years of the 32-team format, FIFA has expanded to 48 teams in the final tournament.
Here are the key changes:
- 48 national teams instead of 32. )
Group stage composed of 12 groups of 4 teams each.
- -, the top two teams automatically advance.
- In addition, the eight best third-placed teams (from the 12 groups) also move on.
All that leads into the new knockout bracket which now starts with a Round of 32.
How the Round of 32 Will Work
Since the Round of 32 is new for the World Cup, here’s how it’s set up in 2026:
- Qualification through groups:
- Top two teams from each of the 12 groups (so that’s 24 teams).
- Plus 8 best third-place teams across all groups.
- Knockout bracket structure:
- The 32 teams enter a single-elimination round (Round of 32).
- Winners progress to Round of 16, then quarters, semis, and the final.
- More matches overall:
- Because of this additional knockout round, teams might play more knockout matches (potentially 5 knockout wins needed to lift the trophy, instead of 4 in previous tournaments when knockouts started at Round of 16).
- Total number of matches in the tournament rises from 64 (in the 32-team format) to 104.
Does “Does World Cup Have Round Of 32” Apply Before 2026?
No. In all previous World Cups (from when the tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1998 up through 2022), there was no Round of 32. The tournament structure looked like this:
- Group stage (usually 8 groups of 4 teams)
- Top two from each group advance → Round of 16
- Then quarterfinals, semifinals, and final
So for tournaments before 2026, the knockout stage always began at Round of 16. If someone asked “does World Cup have Round of 32” referring to, say, 2018 or 2022, the answer would have been “no.”
Why the Change? Pros and Cons
AdiyaBall thinks the change to a Round of 32 comes with trade-offs. Here’s what fans, analysts, and FIFA have been saying.
Pros
- More nations get meaningful World Cup time. Smaller football countries that might not have reached past group stage now have an extra chance via third-place qualification.
- More matches and more drama. With more knockout fixtures, fans get more high-stakes games. Suddenly there’s more to fight for even in group matches.
- Global reach. Expanding the tournament means more countries and confederations are represented, which helps grow the sport worldwide.
- Revenue opportunities. More matches = more broadcast rights, ticket sales, tourism, etc., for hosts and stakeholders.
Cons / Potential Issues
- Fixture congestion and fatigue. More matches could strain players, especially those who play many matches for club + country.
- Quality variance. With more lower ranked teams making up the 48, early group games or matches involving “weaker” teams might be one-sided.
- Logistics complexity. More venues, travel, organizational demands for hosts and teams.
- Potential for “dead rubber” games. Some group matches might become less meaningful depending on earlier results (though including best third-place qualification mitigates this somewhat).
What Fans Need to Know Going Forward
Here are tips for fans wanting to follow, understand, and enjoy the Round of 32 in the upcoming World Cups:
- Watch final group matches carefully. With third-place qualification in play, places in the Round of 32 might come down to goal difference, fair play, etc.
- Pay attention to the bracket. Matchups in Round of 32 will depend on which third-placed teams advance; the path to the final could change a lot.
- Track tournament schedules. The World Cup is longer and has more matches in 2026; plan for group stage, knockout phases, rest days.
- Support underdogs. This format gives more teams hope. Some nations will use the new system to make historic runs.
Conclusion
Yes, the World Cup does have a Round of 32, but only starting in 2026. Earlier editions began directly with the Round of 16 as their first knockout stage. With 48 teams, 12 groups, and inclusion of the best third-placed sides, the new format brings bigger fields, more drama, and lots of questions for fans to follow.
If you like, AdiyaBall can also break down which teams have qualified for 2026 so far, or project who might make it to the new Round of 32. Want that?
