2026 World Cup Kicks Off with Expanded Format and New Tiebreaker Rules

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun with a historic expansion, featuring 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four—a first in the tournament’s history. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to a newly introduced round of 32, marking a significant departure from the previous 32-team format. The Independent reports that just three points could be enough for some teams to progress, depending on other results.

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