Finals

THE FINALS

This is where all the nations who have made it through their continental and intercontinental qualifiers meet.

32 teams are split into 8 groups of 4 teams according to FIFA’s complex process. In this system, the host nation and the top 7 ranked teams are split into different groups. Also, to allow for geographical spread, no 2 teams from the same continent are allowed to be in the same group with the exception of Europe (maximum of 2 European teams are permitted in 1 group. Playing each other once, the group winner and runnersup will progress to the Round of 16. The 16 teams then play single-game knockout matches in which the winner progresses to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and grandfinal.

In the knockout games there must be a winner and a loser, extra-time and penalty kicks are to be used if necessary to determine a victor. The losers of the two semi-final matches will play each other before the Final to decide 3rd place. It goes without saying the winner of the grand-final are crowned champions of the world.