Of the thirteen teams that took part in the first edition of the FIFA World Cup, in Uruguay in 1930, the tournament is set to see the biggest increase in competing countries in its history. The competition, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026, will have 48 teams, and expansion was approved in 2017. It is the most dramatic increase for the championship heading towards its centenary.
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In many versions, the World Cup was played with 16 national teams, to grow to 24, then to 32, the last time it was played in Qatar in 2022. How will the World Cup be filled with 48 representatives? What system will be used? How many matches will be held? These and many other questions will be clarified next Thursday, March 16, when the 73rd FIFA Congress takes place in Kigali (Rwanda).
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it is written in the newspaper AS, from Spain: The 2026 World Cup would consist of 104 matches: 12 groups of four teams, round of 16, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final. This is the plan that FIFA will put to a vote at its General Congress. According to BBCall parties (national associations, FIFA Council, World Cup Organizing Committee) agree to keep the current group format and adapt it to the expansion of 48 participants.
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If the idea of Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, is accepted at the congress in Kigali, the 2026 World Cup, according to AS, would be distributed as follows: 72 group stage matches (instead of 48 as there were between France 19998 and Korea and Japan in 2002), 16 for the round of 16 (a new round was added in which the eight best third-placed in each sector would enter), eight for the round of 16, four for the quarter-final, two semi-finals, a duel for third place and the grand final”.
The original plan for the first World Cup in three host countries (Mexico, United States and Canada) was to establish 16 groups of three teams each. but the chain BBC reported that “the dramatic closure of the first round in Qatar 2022 (all groups defined their qualification for the round of 16 in the last minutes) was the main factor that made FIFA leaders change their minds.” (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
