Argentina’s Lionel Messi hoists the winning team replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy during a celebration ceremony for local fans after an international friendly soccer match against Panama at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello, file)
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.
Here’s what to know about the World Cup:
— 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.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy in front of fans after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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