FIFA World Cup 101: When and Where, and Who’s In?

The biggest FIFA World Cup ever, with a record 48 teams set to play a record 104 matches spread out across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is fast approaching. The three host nations automatically qualified for the field. Defending champion Argentina is back, and four nations — Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — will make their World Cup debuts.

Tournament format
All teams are guaranteed three matches in the group stage of the tournament. Teams have been assigned to 12 different four-team groups. The top two teams from each group are guaranteed to advance, as will the eight best third-place teams. Teams finishing fourth in groups are eliminated. The 32 surviving teams after the group stage will enter a single-elimination tournament, with one exception: The teams that lose in the semifinals will advance to a third place match the day before the World Cup final.

Tournament sites
Group stage—Atlanta; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Arlington, Texas; Guadalajara, Mexico; Houston; Kansas City; Inglewood, California; Mexico City; Miami Gardens, Florida; Monterrey, Mexico; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Santa Clara, California; Seattle; Toronto; and Vancouver.
Round of 32—Foxborough, East Rutherford, Inglewood, Toronto, Santa Clara, Seattle, Houston, Arlington, Mexico City, Atlanta, Miami Gardens, Vancouver, Kansas City.
Round of 16—Vancouver, Atlanta, Mexico City, East Rutherford, Seattle, Arlington, Houston, Philadelphia.
Quarterfinals—Foxborough, Inglewood, Miami Gardens, Kansas City.
Semifinals—Atlanta, Arlington.
Third place match—Miami Gardens.
World Cup final—East Rutherford.

Tournament dates
Group stage: June 11-June 27
Round of 32: June 28-July 3
Round of 16: July 4-7
Quarterfinals: July 9-11
Semifinals: July 14 and 15
Third-place match: July 18
World Cup final: July 19

Group breakdown:
Which teams are in which group, with current FIFA ranking in parentheses:
Group A: Mexico (15), South Korea (25), Czechia (41), South Africa (60).
Group B: Switzerland (19), Canada (30), Qatar (55), Bosnia and Herzegovina (65).
Group C: Brazil (6), Morocco (8), Scotland (43), Haiti (83).
Group D: United States (16), Turkey (22), Australia (27), Paraguay (40).
Group E: Germany (10), Ecuador (23), Ivory Coast (34), Curacao (82).
Group F: Netherlands (7), Japan (18), Sweden (38), Tunisia (44).
Group G: Belgium (9), Iran (21), Egypt (29), New Zealand (85).
Group H: Spain (2), Uruguay (17), Saudi Arabia (61), Cape Verde (69).
Group I: France (1), Senegal (14), Norway (31), Iraq (57).
Group J: Argentina (3), Algeria (28), Austria (24), Jordan (63).
Group K: Portugal (5), Colombia (13), Congo (46), Uzbekistan (50).
Group L: England (4), Croatia (11), Panama (33), Ghana (74).

Will Messi play?
Argentina captain Lionel Messi — considered by many the greatest player in the history of the game — hasn’t said with absolute certainty that he’ll play in the World Cup.