World Cup Topical Guide

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This topical guide provides definitions, background and guidance for covering the World Cup. It is compiled from Associated Press coverage, AP experts, official sources and the AP Stylebook.

See full AP coverage for updates and more background, context and terms. This guide will be updated as needed.

Tournament format

A record 48 teams are set to play a record 104 matches spread out across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

— 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. (The only exception are the teams that lose in the semifinals and advance to a third-place match the day before the World Cup final). Knockout and elimination are both acceptable. The terms for the specific rounds: round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

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Key terms

Argentine

The preferred term for the people and culture of Argentina. Correct: Argentine fans traveled to Kansas City in large numbers to see their team play. Incorrect: Argentinian fans traveled.

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corner

A kick taken from the corner of the field by an attacking player. Awarded when the ball has passed over the goal line after last touching a defensive player. The shot is taken from the corner nearest to where the ball went out.

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defender

Do not use defenseman.

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FIFA

The global governing body for soccer. FIFA is an acronym for the organization's name in French: Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Founded in 1904, FIFA is based in Zurich, Switzerland.

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goalkeeper

Goalie is acceptable. Do not use goaltender.

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extra time

In the knockout phase if a game ends in a draw, two 15-minute halves of extra time are added. Not to be confused with injury time, which is time added to the clock by the referee to make up for time lost when play is stopped due to injuries, substitutions, video reviews and other reasons. If the score is still tied after extra time, the game is decided in a penalty shootout.

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free kick

A kick awarded to a team if its player is fouled by an opponent anywhere on the field except for the two penalty areas near the goals. The kick can either be direct (able to shoot straight into the net) or indirect (cannot shoot into the net).

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group stage

Teams in the 2026 World Cup 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.

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hydration breaks

FIFA has added 3-minute breaks midway through each half to allow players to have beverages to avoid dehydration. The breaks were introduced in response to concerns about player welfare and heat after last year's Club World Cup in the United States, where temperatures came close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) at some games.

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injury time

A soccer match is played over two halves of 45 minutes, but referees typically add a few minutes to compensate for time lost due to injuries, substitutions, video reviews and other delays. How many minutes of injury time — also called stoppage time — is added is announced at the end of regulation time.

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soccer or football

Soccer is the preferred term in the U.S., but the sports is referred to as football in most other English-speaking countries.

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offside

Offside occurs when a player is nearer to his opponent's goal line than the second-to-last opponent when a ball is passed to him by a teammate. A free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the place where the offside happened. Not offsides.

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penalty kick

A penalty is awarded when the defending team commits a foul inside its penalty area. The kick is taken from the penalty spot, 11 meters (12 yards) from the goal. The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line until the kicker strikes the ball.

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penalty shootout

If the score of a knockout match remains tied after extra time, the game is decided by a penalty shootout. The teams pick five players to shoot one penalty kick each, and the team with the most goals wins. If the score remains tied after five kicks, the teams take one kick each until there's a winner.

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red card

Issued to a player who commits a serious foul or who has been issued with two yellow cards in the same game. The player must leave the field and cannot be replaced.

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throw-in

When a player restarts play by throwing the ball back onto the pitch from its perimeter. The player must keep both feet on the ground and have both hands behind his head as he throws the ball.

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stadium names and datelines

FIFA has changed the names of the host stadiums during the World Cup. The list below contains the FIFA name, followed by the existing name and the proper dateline. In most stories, captions and scripts, the venue name can be avoided altogether. Brazil played Haiti in front of a capacity crowd in Philadelphia. If venue names are used, use the World Cup name on first reference and include the official name on a second reference: The Netherlands and Japan played at Dallas Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Netherlands and Japan played at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium).

Atlanta Stadium; Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (ATLANTA)
Boston Stadium; Gillette Stadium (FOXBOROUGH, Mass.)
Dallas Stadium; AT&T Stadium:(ARLINGTON, Texas)
Houston Stadium; NRG Stadium (HOUSTON)
Kansas City Stadium; Arrowhead Stadium (KANSAS CITY, Mo.)
Los Angeles Stadium; SoFi Stadium (INGLEWOOD, Calif.)
Miami Stadium; Hard Rock Stadium (MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.)
New York/New Jersey Stadium; MetLife Stadium (EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.)
Philadelphia Stadium; Lincoln Financial Field (PHILADELPHIA)
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium; Levi's Stadium (SANTA CLARA, Calif.)
Seattle Stadium: Lumen Field (SEATTLE)
Mexico and Canada
Mexico City Stadium; Estadio Azteca (MEXICO CITY)
Guadalajara Stadium; Estadio Akron (ZAPOPAN, Mexico)
Toronto Stadium (TORONTO)
BC Place Vancouver (VANCOUVER, British Columbia)
Monterrey Stadium; Estadio BBVA (GUADALUPE, Mexico)

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Here are the countries that are competing:
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Canada
Cape Verde
Colombia
Congo: also known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congo is acceptable on all references.
Croatia
Curacao
Czech Republic/Czechia: Both are acceptable as names for the central European country with its capital in Prague. The shorter name Czechia is preferred by the Czech government. If using Czechia, clarify in the story that the country is more widely known in English as the Czech Republic. Pronunciation: CHEH'-kee-ah.
Ecuador
Egypt
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Japan
Jordan
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Portugal
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
Senegal
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tunisia
Turkey
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan