The FIFA Council, meeting Tuesday in Kigali (Rwanda), approved a new format for the World Cup with 48 teams, from 2026 in North America.
If the transition from a tournament of 32 to 48 teams had already been endorsed by Fifa in January 2017, the body, meeting for its annual congress in Kigali (Rwanda), validated, Tuesday, March 14, the new format of the Football World Cup. It will be implemented at the next World Cup, in 2026, in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with a final scheduled for July 19.
Twelve groups of four teams
While the idea of dividing the 48 teams into sixteen groups of three had, for a time, crossed the mind of Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, the body finally retained the option of dividing the nations into 12 groups. of four teams, in which each will play three matches, as in the current formula. Sixteen European nations will be represented. South America will have six to seven representatives, North America will have six to eight representatives, including the three host countries, the African Confederation will send 10 or 11 selections, and Asia will be represented by eight or nine teams.
The first two of each group qualify, as do the eight best third
New evolution compared to the format used during the last World Cups: the third group will be able to keep the hope of qualifying, since the eight best among them, who will have the most points or the best goal difference, will access in the round of 16. A knockout round therefore appears with the round of 16, while the final phase began with the round of 16 in the last editions. It will therefore be necessary to play eight games instead of seven to aim for the title of world champion.
A competition over 56 days
In 2022, in Qatar, the World Cup took place over 28 days, with 64 matches played. In 2026, the World will last 56 days, including 39 competition squads, to distribute the 104 meetings. “Revenues will increase in terms of broadcasting, sponsors, hospitality. We will play in huge stadiums usually dedicated to American football, with capacities of 80,000 to 90,000 seats”rejoiced Gianni Infantino after the World Cup in Qatar, predicting in Central and North America the influx of 5.5 million supporters in 2026.