World Cup 2026 will feature 12 groups of four teams and 104 matches, up from 64 in Qatar
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Mar 15, 2023
The expanded 2026 men's World Cup in North America will start with 12 groups of four teams in a change from the original planned format of 16 groups of three.
The next World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the first to feature 48 teams, a sharp increase from the 32 sides at last year's tournament in Qatar.
"The revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams," FIFA said.
It means that there will be 104 matches, a huge rise compared to the 64 games played in the 2022 tournament and an increase even on the original plan that the 2026 World Cup would feature 80 matches.
World Cup games
1930. 18
1934. 17
1938. 18
1950. 22
1954. 26
1958. 35
1962-70. 32
1974-78. 38
1982-1990. 52
1998-2022. 64
2026. 104
FIFA's initial plan for 2026 was for 16 groups of three teams, from which the top two countries would advance to the last 32.
The new format means the top two in each group will go through to the knockout round along with the eight best third-placed sides. As a result, the finalists, and the teams finishing third and fourth, will play a total of eight games instead of the current seven.
The decision comes after a dramatic and entertaining group stage at the tournament in Qatar convinced FIFA that a rethink to its original 2026 blueprint was needed.
"The groups of four have been absolutely incredible until the last minute of the last match," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in December.
Tuesday's decision was announced following a FIFA Council meeting in the Rwandan capital Kigali, at which it confirmed the next men's World Cup final will be played on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
FIFA said that the total number of days between when clubs must stop playing and release players for international duty, and the final, would be 56, identical to the previous three tournaments.
Nevertheless the World Cup itself may be played over a longer period, after Qatar 2022 was held over just 29 days.
Infantino is expected to be waved in for a new four-year term as president as he stands unopposed for re-election at Thursday's FIFA Congress.
Expanding the World Cup had been a priority for Infantino following his election in 2016, when he took over from the disgraced Sepp Blatter at the head of world soccer.
The last World Cup in North America, in the United States in 1994, featured just 24 teams before it grew to feature 32 teams in France four years later.
The number of venues for the 2026 finals will double, from eight stadiums in Qatar last year to 16. Eleven venues will be in the USA, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
FIFA has projected a huge increase in revenues in the four-year cycle leading up to 2026, up to $11 billion from $7.5 billion in the four years up to 2022.
The body is also hoping that a new, expanded 32-team Club World Cup will boost revenues, too.
FIFA said Tuesday the competition will start in June 2025 and will be held every four years with club rankings determining qualifiers.
However, an annual competition will also be held, similar to the existing seven-team Club World Cup, which is to be discontinued after the 2023 edition.
The yearly competition will involve the six continental club champions and conclude with a final at a neutral venue between the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the winner of playoffs between the other teams.
The annual tournament was approved, "given the need expressed by the confederations for the champions of their premier club competitions to play each other annually to stimulate competitiveness," FIFA said.
cfe/as/gj
© Agence France-Presse
CHA-CHING.!$!$!$
I thought it pertains to more of Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity...
I wonder if they will need to Add Cities.???
Should be a Cake Walk for USA, as Team 1a, to get to Round of 16.
I want to know more about how "club rankings" will determine the CWC qualifiers. Is there a club ranking system that works across confederations? Or will it be the top X clubs from each confederation, so still a number of berths for each confederation?
I watched 63 of the 64 2022 WC games. I'll bet I'll watch fewer than that out of the 104 games in 2026. More shit teams, more shit games for 2026. Thanks FIFA!
No offense but who where the shit teams besides quatar and only because they where the host.
that final round of group play was fantastic you had no idea who would move onto the round of 16.
super exciting. And there where some real surprises as in Morocco and others.
Why not invite everyone ,there
A 62.5% revenue increase for the event compared to Qatar. That's why Gianni has pushed so hard for it.
There will be some teams that embarrass themselves. Far too large a field.
no complaints here, 2026 is USA, more teams = more chances to see games! C'mon!
Humble, " MORE CHANCHES to see games? Yes, more shit games, not more quality games. Soccer is going to take a dive because the players, the good ones will have little left in their tank for their upcoming season.
The quality of the game will be going down due to the more games these players have to play.....It is just rediculous....maybe they will allow 7subs per game.
Lets face it this is not a quality enhancer of the game ,itself. I certainly won't be watching this for I'm still a fan of 16 great quality coming to the world cup and see qreat soccer...
The only upside would be if they simplify qualification since so many teams will be included. FIFA will also need more referees, diluting the quality of their performances as well. Are they going to throw on extra women or trans officials just to score DEI points?