Unlike the group stage of the World Cup, knockout matches cannot end in a draw.
WASHINGTON – World Cup group games concluded Saturday and the final spots in the round of 16 were determined.
The 2026 tournament began with 48 teams participating (the most in World Cup history), with matches taking place in 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
All 48 teams were divided into 12 groups and were guaranteed three group stage matches before the tournament moved to the first knockout rounds.
This story continues below.
During the group stage, matches could end in a draw or with an equal score. However, elimination rounds prevent matches from ending in a draw.
Each match in the knockout round lasts 90 minutes with some added stoppage time, but extra time may be added to the match if the two teams going head to head are tied at the end of time.
Here’s a closer look at the rules in elimination rounds to achieve a win-lose outcome.
Is a draw possible in the World Cup playoffs?
Group stage games can end in draws, but this was the only time in the tournament that this could happen. In these matches the game did not go into extra time, but rather ended with each team awarded one point.
Now that the elimination round has begun, a draw is no longer possible.
What are the World Cup overtime rules?
Extra time will be used if the game ends in a draw after 90 minutes of play. Extra time consists of two halves of 15 minutes.
If both teams are still tied at the end of extra time, the match will be decided in a penalty shootout.
Both teams take turns taking penalty kicks. The team with the most points out of five wins the round. If no goals are scored in the first five attempts, the penalties go to sudden death and penalties are taken until one team scores and the other misses.
The 2022 World Cup final, which featured Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe, ended in a penalty shootout.
What is a golden goal in football?
The “golden goal” in soccer was that the first team to score in overtime would immediately win the match, similar to the NHL’s sudden death rules.
The golden goal rule was used at the 1998 and 2002 Men’s World Cups.
World Cup 1/16 final draw:
Live coverage of Round of 16 predictions is available on the BBC and The Athletic. This bracket is current as of Saturday:
- Match 73: Second place in Group A (South Africa) against Group B runner-up (Canada) June 28
- Match 74: Group E Winner (Germany) against third place from A/B/C/D or F (Paraguay) June 29
- Match 75: Group F winner (Netherlands) against Group C runner-up (Morocco) dated June 29
- Match 76: Group C Winner (Brazil) against the runner-up in Group F (Japan) June 29
- Match 77: Group I winner (France) against third place from group C/D/F/G/H (Sweden) June 30
- Match 78: Second place in Group E (Ivory Coast) against the runner-up in Group I (Norway) dated June 30
- Match 79: Group A winner (Mexico) against third place from group C/E/F/H/I (Ecuador) June 30
- Match 80: Group L winner (England) against third place in group E/H/I/J/K (DR Congo) July 1
- Match 81: Group D winner (United States) against third place in group B/E/F/I/J (Bosnia and Herzegovina) July 1
- Match 82: Group G winner (Belgium) against third place A/E/H/I/J (Senegal) July 1
- Match 83: Second place in Group K (Portugal) against group L (Croatia) runner-up July 2
- Match 84: Group H winner (Spain) against Group J runner-up (Austria) July 2
- Match 85: Group B Winner (Switzerland) against third place from group E/F/G/I/J (Algeria) July 2
- Match 86: Group J Winner (Argentina) against Group H runner-up (Cape Verde) July 3
- Match 87: Group K (Colombia) winner against third place from group D/E/I/J/L (Ghana) July 3
- Match 88: Second place in Group D (Australia) against the runner-up in Group G (Egypt) July 3
Which teams made it to the 1/16 finals?
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa.
- Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco.
- Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay.
- Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden.
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt.
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde
- Group I: France, Norway, Senegal.
- Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria.
- Group K: Colombia, Portugal, DR Congo.
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana.