FIFA decided this Tuesday how the format of the next world Cups, starting with the 2026 edition, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The competition will be disputed with 48 selections, divided in 12 groups with four members each. The top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stage.
From then on, the 32 classified face each other in elimination clashes until the grand final. The teams that reach the decision will play eight matches, instead of the previous seven. The body detailed the changes through an official statement.
The decision was taken by the Fifa Council, the entity’s last instance, which met this Tuesday in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, to debate the ideas. The city will also be the seat of the FIFA Congress, which is expected to re-elect the current incumbent president, Gianni Infantino, for a new term until 2027.
Fifa was already studying to increase the number of selections to 48 in the World Cup, but the initial plan was for there to be the following division: 16 groups of three teams each. The top two from each group would advance to the knockout stage.
The model, however, had some problems. With three selections in a group, the last round would allow one of them to “rest”, which would open a gap for the other two teams to play a “compadres game”, depending on the previous results.
In addition, Infantino himself admitted that the “emotion” seen in the final round of the 2022 World Cup could make the entity rethink the format. In Qatar, there were decisions in the final minutes of the games and some surprises, such as the early elimination of Germany.
How will the seats be distributed?
Fifa had also already decided how the matches would be distributed to each of the host countries: 10 in Mexico, 10 in Canada and 60 in the United States. The format with 12 groups of four teams, however, will imply a remodeling of this division.
The model of 16 groups of three would already increase the number of games in relation to the last World Cup – from 64 to 80. Now, the one approved this Tuesday by the Council foresees the realization of 104 matches. FIFA and the Organizing Committee must meet to relocate the new games.
Another change for the upcoming Cup will be the preparation period for the tournament (which was only seven days in 2022) as well as the rest time after the competition. The entity plans, in all, 56 days to address the preparation period, the World Cup itself and the rest window.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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