Every match matters on football's biggest stage
Marcus Adeyemi
7 min read
With 48 teams and a new knockout round, there is no room left for a quiet group-stage draw.
The new World Cup format adds a round of 32, which means third place in a group can still be enough. Coaches say it has changed how they think about rest, rotation and goal difference.
What happened
For fans, it means far fewer dead rubbers and far more nervous final whistles.
Why it matters
The early evidence is clear: the group stage has never been this tense.
Key facts
The new World Cup format adds a round of 32, which means third place in a group can still be enough.
For fans, it means far fewer dead rubbers and far more nervous final whistles.
Sport
Sport, 2026
73,420
7 min read
