2010 World Cup League format

The eight groups are again played in a league format, where, in the 1st round, a team plays its opponents once each. Two teams that emerge with maximum points in each group progress to the 2nd round. The same points system is used (three points for a win, one point for a draw, no points for a defeat). A schedule for the worldcup group matches will be drawn up, but the last two matches in a group must kick off simultaneously. The winner and runner-up of each group progresses to the 2010 World Cup Quarter-finals, where a knockout system is used (the two teams play each other once, the winner progresses), this is used in all subsequent rounds as well. The winners of the World Cup quarter-finals matches progress to the 2010 World Cup Semi-finals, where the winners play in the 2010 World Cup Final. If in any of the knockout rounds after normal playing time, the scores are still equal, extra time and penalties are employed to separate the two teams. Matches are arranged so that there are always two games within a week, which is aimed at minimizing player travel time.