#BinancePickAndWin *The 2026 World Cup is different from all the previous editions* 🏆
Because it’s the first tournament with *48 teams* instead of 32.
*How many matches?*
*Total matches = 104 matches*
The previous edition in 2022 had only 64 matches.
*How is it divided? 👇*
**Stage** **Number of teams** **Number of matches** **Format**
**Group Stage** 48 teams **72 matches** 12 groups × 4 teams. Each group has 6 matches. The top 1st + 2nd + 8 best third-placed teams advance = 32 teams
**Round of 32** 32 teams **16 matches** Straight knockout
**Round of 16** 16 teams **8 matches** Straight knockout
**Quarter-finals** 8 teams **4 matches** Straight knockout
**Semi-finals** 4 teams **2 matches** Straight knockout
**Determining 3rd place** 2 teams **1 match**
**Final** 2 teams **1 match** Sunday, 19 July 2026 🏟️
*Total = 72 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 104 matches*
*Most important changes:*
1. *No play-off match for the third places* like before. 8 third-placed teams advance directly to the Round of 32.
2. *The tournament is longer*: from 11 June to 19 July = 39 days.
3. *3 host countries*: USA + Mexico + Canada. The final is in New Jersey.
So we’re going to watch football games almost every day for a month and a half 😍
Because it’s the first tournament with *48 teams* instead of 32.
*How many matches?*
*Total matches = 104 matches*
The previous edition in 2022 had only 64 matches.
*How is it divided? 👇*
**Stage** **Number of teams** **Number of matches** **Format**
**Group Stage** 48 teams **72 matches** 12 groups × 4 teams. Each group has 6 matches. The top 1st + 2nd + 8 best third-placed teams advance = 32 teams
**Round of 32** 32 teams **16 matches** Straight knockout
**Round of 16** 16 teams **8 matches** Straight knockout
**Quarter-finals** 8 teams **4 matches** Straight knockout
**Semi-finals** 4 teams **2 matches** Straight knockout
**Determining 3rd place** 2 teams **1 match**
**Final** 2 teams **1 match** Sunday, 19 July 2026 🏟️
*Total = 72 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 104 matches*
*Most important changes:*
1. *No play-off match for the third places* like before. 8 third-placed teams advance directly to the Round of 32.
2. *The tournament is longer*: from 11 June to 19 July = 39 days.
3. *3 host countries*: USA + Mexico + Canada. The final is in New Jersey.
So we’re going to watch football games almost every day for a month and a half 😍