The stage is set for 48 national soccer teams to begin their FIFA World Cup run.
The teams have been divided into 12 groups of four (Groups A-L). They’ll play each team in their group for a total of three matches in the group stage.
A win will be worth 3 points, a tie worth 1 and a loss worth 0.
The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams will advance to the round of 32.
At this point in the tournament, the knockout stage begins, where a loss results in immediate elimination.
The winners will continue to advance to the round of 16, then the quarterfinals, semifinals and third place playoff or the final.
When a game during the knockout stage ends in a tie after 90 minutes of regular time, it will continue into 30 minutes of extra time (broken up into two 15-minute halves) followed by a penalty shootout if there is still no winner.
The winner of the championship game on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will take home all the glory.
