The FIFA Council is set to decide the format for the next World Cup this week, a plan that may depart from the initial expectations.
Co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, the 2026 World Cup marks a new chapter for football’s premier event. After 28 years and seven editions with 32 teams, the tournament will expand again, reaching 48 teams for the first time since its modern era began.
How the 2026 World Cup allocation will work in the United States, Mexico and Canada
The arrival of 16 additional teams forces FIFA to revise the traditional contest structure that, since France 1998, balanced the number of participants, the competitiveness on the field, and the number of matches per edition. A final decision on the fresh format was planned for the congress taking place in Kigali.
WHAT WILL THE 48-TEAM WORLD CUP LOOK LIKE?
When the North American bid was confirmed to include 16 more teams than Qatar 2022, FIFA proposed a provisional layout featuring 16 groups of three teams each, with two seeds in every group advancing to the knockout phase, effectively starting the round of 16 instead of the traditional round of 32.
That proposal drew considerable criticism. Two issues stood out: the high risk of early elimination, meaning only two matches in the group stage for some teams, and the danger that three-team groups could invite match fixing on the final day when teams might cooperate to secure a mutually beneficial result.
With voices calling for change during the prior World Cup, rumors circulated about revising the plan. According to reports, a Kigali Congress proposal would place the 48 teams into 12 groups of four, with the top two in each group and the eight best third-place finishers advancing to a 16-team knockout stage.
HOW MANY GAMES WOULD THE 2026 WORLD CUP INCLUDE?
A chief reason behind adding 16 teams was to provide more football for fans around the globe. Under the early three-team groups and the knockout phase beginning in the round of 32, total matches would rise from 64 to 80.
The revised plan with 12 groups of four and a traditional knockout stage would push total matches higher still, with estimates indicating about 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Consequently, becoming world champion would require eight games for a champion, one more than in earlier editions. The tournament duration would stretch to roughly ten days longer, affecting pre-tournament preparations and equipment logistics, and shifting timelines for teams’ training camps.
Which post did you like the most?
- Real Betty
- sao paulo
- cremonese
- Ajax
- Burnley
16231 to vote
Thank you for voting
The results will appear shortly.
Which post did you like the most?
- 52%Real Betty
- eleven%sao paulo
- 5%cremonese
- 25%Ajax
- 7%Burnley
16231 to vote
Source: Goal