The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup has transformed the group stage, giving third-place teams new hope while creating more drama than ever before.

Here's a complete guide to penalty kicks in the World Cup, including penalties during regulation and the differences from the penalty shootouts that decide knockout games.

The 2026 World Cup has arrived. Mexico and South Africa will kick off the tournament on Thursday afternoon following Mexico's opening ceremony.

Eight third-place teams will reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup, but who will make it?

The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, featuring new group stage tiebreakers and a Round of 32 knockout format.

The FIFA World Cup 2026's expanded 48-team format has significantly increased the financial stakes, with every knockout victory unlocking millions of dollars in additional prize money as teams chase a share of FIFA's record $871 million payout.

Iker Casillas, a veteran World Cup expert, thinks making a radical change to the current match format is a great idea. Iker Casillas sparked a massive debate during the 2026 World Cup by proposing a radical change to how matches are structured .

Germany and the Netherlands are among the first high-profile casualties of the revamped World Cup format. Two of football's most decorated nations have been sent packing from the tournament after losing on penalties to Paraguay and Morocco,