group stage
noun/ˈɡruːp steɪdʒ/
/ˈɡruːp steɪdʒ/
(sport)- a stage of a competition where teams compete in a number of groups, and the most successful teams progress to the next stage, which is usually a series of knockout matches
- The national team hasn't made it past the group stage of the World Cup for 20 years.
Check pronunciation:
group stage