World Cup 2026 Playoff Bracket Predictor
The group stage is over, and the real test of champions begins
Welcome to the interactive World Cup 2026 playoff bracket, your guide to the entire knockout stage. For the first time ever, 32 teams will battle it out in a single-elimination format. Use our playoff predictor below to chart every potential matchup, from the inaugural Round of 32 to the ultimate final showdown. Who will survive and advance?
4 paths, 4 winners
2 tournaments, 2 winners
6 teams to qualify
🏆 Simulation Results
🏆 UEFA Playoff Results
🏆 Inter-Confederation Results
📊 Summary
UEFA Playoff Paths
4 mini-tournaments to determine 4 World Cup spots
UEFA Path A
→ Group BUEFA Path B
→ Group FUEFA Path C
→ Group DUEFA Path D
→ Group AInter-Confederation Playoffs
2 round-robin tournaments (3 teams each)
IC Playoff 1
→ Group KIC Playoff 2
→ Group IThe New 48-Team Knockout Format Explained
The 2026 tournament introduces a massive shift: the playoff tree now starts with 32 teams instead of 16. This means an extra round of high-stakes matches. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to this stage, making every group match more critical than ever.
Charting the Path to the Final
What does it take to win the World Cup? A team must now navigate five grueling knockout rounds. Our bracket helps you visualize this challenge. You can explore potential heavyweight clashes, like a Spain vs. Brazil quarter-final, or identify underdog runs. As you make your predictions, the path to the final becomes clear, showing just how difficult it is to reach the pinnacle of world football.
About the Playoff Qualifiers
Before the knockout stage begins, 6 teams must earn their spots through playoff qualifiers:
UEFA Playoff Paths
Europe's playoff system consists of 4 separate paths (A, B, C, D), each featuring 4 teams competing in a mini-tournament format. Each path includes two semi-finals and one final, with the winner securing a spot in the World Cup group stage.
- Path A - Winner advances to Group B
- Path B - Winner advances to Group F
- Path C - Winner advances to Group D
- Path D - Winner advances to Group A
Inter-Confederation Playoffs
The IC playoffs bring together teams from different confederations in a round-robin format. Each playoff features 3 teams playing against each other, with the top team advancing to the World Cup.
- IC Playoff 1 - Winner advances to Group K (featuring teams from CAF, CONCACAF, OFC)
- IC Playoff 2 - Winner advances to Group I (featuring teams from AFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF)
Playoffs & Bracket FAQ
How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup knockout stage?
There will be a total of 31 matches in the knockout stage: 16 in the Round of 32, 8 in the Round of 16, 4 quarter-finals, 2 semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and the final.
Can I fill out this bracket based on my own group predictions?
This page uses a default or pre-seeded bracket. To generate a bracket based on your own group stage results, please use our complete Full Tournament Simulator.
Is this an official FIFA World Cup 2026 bracket?
This is an interactive predictor tool based on the official tournament structure. The final, confirmed bracket will be set after the group stage concludes.
How to Use the Simulator
Click the "🎲 Simulate All Playoffs" button above to run a complete simulation of all playoff matches. The simulator uses team strength ratings and FIFA rankings to predict realistic outcomes. You can reset and simulate multiple times to see different scenarios and potential qualifiers.