New Delhi, June 22 -- The qualification of best third-placed teams in the knockouts of a FIFA World Cup returned after 32 years in the 2026 edition. The last time third-placed teams qualified for the knockouts stages was back in 1994 where 16 teams made it to the knockouts from a field of 24. The practice was discontinued from the next edition as the World Cup expanded to 32 teams.

With the FIFA expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, the qualification of third-placed teams once again came back into equation. While 24 teams will directly qualify for the round of 32 by finishing in the top two in the group stages, the eight best third-placed teams will follow them.

The third-placed teams will have to wait until June 28 - the last day of the...