2010 Football World Cup Format

The format for the 2010 Football World Cup remains unchanged from that used in the 2006 event.

A total of 32 teams from the six FIFA confederations will participate in the FIFA World Cup between the 11th of June and the 11th of July 2010.

Group Stages: 11/06 – 25/06

In the 2010 Football World Cup format the tournament will start with the 32 participating teams divided into eight groups of 4 teams. The composition of each group will be decided at the final draw for the 2010 Football World Cup in Cape Town in December 2009.

The teams in each of the groups will play against each other in a round robin tournament. At the conclusion of the group stage the two top ranked teams in each group will progress to the first knockout round – the round of 16.

In the event that teams in any of the groups finish drawn on points for first or second place at the conclusion of the group stage, the winning and second placed team will be decided by goal difference. If the goal difference is also tied, the team scoring the most goals overall will progress.

Round of 16: 27/06 – 29/06

On conclusion of the group stages, the remaining 16 teams will contest the first knockout round of the tournament. In this round the winner of each group will be pitted against the runners-up of another group. Extra time and penalty shootouts will be used to produce winners at this stage if necessary.

Quarterfinals: 02/07 – 03/07

The round of 16 will produce the 8 quarter-finalists for the 2010 Football World Cup. The remaining teams will play in four knockout fixtures, with drawn matches decided by extra time and penalty shootouts if required.

Semifinals: 06/07 – 07/07

The semi-finals will bring the 2010 Football World Cup to fever pitch. Four teams will contest two knockout matches, with the losers of each match progressing to the 3rd/4th place playoff. The two winning teams contest the 2010 World Cup final.

Final: 11/07

The final of the 2010 Football World Cup will be played at Soccer City in Johannesburg.