FIFA World Cup Group Stage

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. Played from June 28 to July 19, 2026, the knockout stage ended with the final, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The top two teams from each of the twelve groups, along with the best eight third-place teams, have advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There were 32 matches in the knockout stage, including a match for third place.