"The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one like never before. Featuring 48 teams from across six confederations, the tournament will be the biggest in the competition's 96-year history. What once started as a mere 13-team World Cup has now expanded by nearly four times. From minnows to giants, there is a place for one and all in the new expanded format, but how does it benefit the global game, and what are the potential drawbacks of opening the door to more teams?"
"The participating nations are divided into 12 groups of four teams each, replacing the previous 32-team, eight-group format. The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32. From there on, it's a straightforward knockout format, followed by the last-16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final."
"Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now FIFA's chief of global football development, thinks expanding the tournament is a step towards making football truly global and raising the standards. Nearly a quarter of the 211 FIFA national member associations worldwide will be represented at the 2026 World Cup. [Al Jazeera] It's a natural evolution. I think we want to make football global all over the world."
"And if you look at the evolution (from) 1930, in 2030, the next World Cup will be 100 years since the World Cup [existed], Wenger told a media conference in December. We started with 13 teams, after [that], 16 1982 was the first time with 24 teams. 1998 was the first time with 32 teams. So, the evolution is (that) always more teams want to participate. And now I believe that 48 teams is the right number, added the Frenchman. According to a FIFA release in mid-April, the World Trade Organization (WTO) estimated that the expanded tournament will produce $80.1b"
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams from six confederations, making it the largest tournament in the competition’s 96-year history. Teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, replacing the previous 32-team, eight-group format. The top two teams from each group will advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams, forming a round of 32. The tournament then proceeds through a knockout sequence: last 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. Arsene Wenger supports expansion as a step toward making football global and raising standards, noting a historical pattern of increasing participation. Nearly a quarter of FIFA’s national member associations worldwide will be represented, and FIFA estimates significant economic impact from the expanded tournament.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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