Why this page matters now
The live scenario board still relies on the official format rules: top two in each group plus eight best third-place teams qualify.
That means direct qualification and third-place qualification should be treated as separate paths until every group is complete.
- Final competition has a group stage followed by Round of 32, Round of 16, QF, SF, third-place match, final. All scenario pages should talk about Round of 32 as first knockout round
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four. Group pages are A-L; each group can have a third-place qualifier
- Last two matches in each group have simultaneous kick-off unless FIFA says otherwise. Group scenario pages should avoid assuming one result is known before the other final match
- Top two in each group plus eight best third-place teams qualify. Direct qualification and third-place route should be separate in copy