The format

• 48 teams split into 12 groups of 4
• Each team plays the other three in their group once
• Top 2 from each group automatically progress (24 teams)
• The 8 best 3rd-placed teams across the 12 groups also progress
• Total of 32 teams advance to the Round of 32

Why 8 third-placed teams?

With 12 groups of 4 and a knockout bracket of 32, the maths needs 8 third-placed teams from across the groups to fill the bracket.

Tiebreakers

If teams in the same group finish on equal points, FIFA's tiebreakers apply, in order:

1. Goal difference across all group matches
2. Goals scored across all group matches
3. Head-to-head points between the tied teams
4. Head-to-head goal difference
5. Head-to-head goals scored
6. Fair play points (yellow / red card record)
7. Drawing of lots

For ranking the 3rd-placed teams across the 12 groups, FIFA applies a similar set of tiebreakers across the 8 candidate teams.

Why this matters for betting

• Outright "to qualify from the group" markets settle on whether a team finishes in the top 2 OR among the 8 best 3rd-placed teams
• Group Winner markets settle on first place only
• "Top Goalscorer" tournament markets continue across all stages