The format for the occasion co-hosted by america, Canada and Mexico will follow 4 groups in a bunch after plan for 16 teams of three shot down.
The 2026 World Cup could have 104 matches as an alternative of the everyday 64 video games attributable to its expanded format, soccer’s world governing physique, FIFA, says forward of its congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
The event attributable to happen in North America will increase from 32 to 48 groups. It is going to encompass 12 teams of 4 groups every, a change from the unique deliberate format of 16 teams of three, FIFA introduced on Tuesday.
“The revised format mitigates the chance of collusion and ensures that every one the groups play a minimal of three matches whereas offering balanced relaxation time between competing groups,” FIFA mentioned.
Co-hosted by america, Canada and Mexico, the occasion would be the first version of the quadrennial event wherein 48 groups participate.
The 16 host cities – 11 in america, three in Mexico and two in Canada – now have 24 additional video games to stage on prime of the 80 they already had for the inaugural 48-team event.
Including about 1.5 million extra tickets may also additional gasoline FIFA’s anticipated document income of at the least $11bn via 2026 from a event that may depend on utilizing high-revenue NFL stadiums.
The confirmed format means the highest two nations in every group will undergo to the knockout spherical together with the eight finest third-placed sides.
Consequently, the finalists and the groups ending third and fourth will play a complete of eight video games as an alternative of the present seven.
The final time both Mexico (in 1986) or america (in 1994) hosted a World Cup, there have been solely 24 groups.
FIFA additionally mentioned a 32-team Membership World Cup will probably be performed each 4 years from June 2025, confirming the announcement made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Qatar final yr.
The present model – an annual competitors with seven groups – will probably be discontinued after 2023.
Confederation champions from 2021 to 2024 will probably be eligible to play within the 32-team Membership World Cup, which suggests Chelsea, Actual Madrid, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Seattle Sounders have already secured their locations.
Europe’s 12 entries can be determined by a rating system primarily based on the identical four-year interval. There will probably be a cap of two groups advancing per nation with exemptions for continental champions.
FIFA additionally plans to create one other competitors beginning yearly in 2024 for continental champions. The UEFA Champions League winner will play the winner of playoffs that includes the opposite continental champions.
