FIFA World Cup Early Round Match

Tickets for the FIFA World Cup finals are nearly as coveted as the Cup itself, so unless you’ve got some serious international ticket connections, you may do better to target the early rounds. No slouches in the enthusiasm department, these games are often as good as the final, albeit without the Cup on the line.

In 1998, the number of qualifying teams was increased to 32, making your chances of scoring tickets to an early game that much better. These teams then compete in two stages – the group stage and the knockout stage. A round-robin format, each team is guaranteed at least three matches during the group stage.

The number of points a team accrues either eliminates the team or propels it into the knockout stage, so everyone is a contender.

The knockout stage is even hotter. A single elimination format, everyone is playing for keeps once they reach this stage. If you’re lucky, you’ll see extra time or penalty shots – used when necessary to determine a winner.