New in 2026: The 48-team format and Round of 32 explained. The 2026 World Cup is the first ever with 48 teams — up from 32. Here's how the bracket works: 48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. The top 2 teams from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-place finishers (8 teams) advance — giving 32 teams in total. These 32 teams then play the Round of 32 (the new first knockout round, replacing what used to be the Round of 16 in old formats). After that: Round of 16 → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final. This means your team now has a third-place safety net in the group stage — finishing 3rd no longer automatically eliminates you.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Fixtures
Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches — tied with Dallas for the most of any US host city. Five group stage games across Groups A, C, H, K (Jun 15, 18, 21, 24, 27), one Round of 32 (Jul 1), one Round of 16 (Jul 7), and a Semifinal on Wednesday, July 15. All times are ET (Eastern Time). The retractable roof keeps Hotlanta heat manageable. Owner Arthur Blank confirmed in May that the stadium's signature fan-friendly concession pricing stays for the World Cup — $2 hot dogs, $2 sodas with free refills, $3 pizza, $2 water. Roughly a third of typical NFL/MLB stadium prices and an outlier among 2026 host venues. Click any match to find flights and hotels.