48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays 3 group matches. The top two teams in every group advance, and the 8 best third-placed teams across all groups join them — 32 teams total move to the knockout rounds.

Finish 1st or 2nd in your group and you are through automatically. Finish 3rd and you enter the best-third-place race: all 12 third-placed teams are ranked together, and the top 8 qualify.

By points first, then goal difference, then goals scored. If teams are still level, fair-play record and official ranking criteria apply.

It is the first knockout round — 32 teams, 16 matches, win or go home. From here every match must produce a winner: extra time, then penalties if needed.

Tie-breakers in plain English: 1) head-to-head / the result between the tied teams, 2) if needed the mini-table among tied teams, 3) overall goal difference, 4) goals scored, 5) fair-play points, 6) final ranking criteria.

Goals scored minus goals conceded across all group matches. Win 3–0 and lose 0–1 and your goal difference is +2. On this site it is used after head-to-head if teams are still level on points.

We simulate every remaining match thousands of times using each team's overall, attack, midfield and defence profile plus recent form and expected goals, then count how often each team finishes 1st, 2nd, or qualifies as a best third. Probabilities are estimates for entertainment and analysis, not betting advice.