The World Cup in 2026 will include from 32 to 48 teams and include 104 games instead of 64 played in Qatar. The FIFA Council meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, will confirm that there will be 104 games in 2026, up from the 64 games played in Qatar last year. The extra 40 games are required as the tournament grows from 32 to 48 teams. The competition in the United States, México, and Canada in 2026 will be divided into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams will advance to a round of 32, which will include the eight best third-placed teams. FIFA had considered a 12-team group format, but the excitement generated by the traditional four-team group system used in the Qatar World Cup convinced the FIFA Council to stay with four-team groups.
The total number of rest, release and tournament days remains the same from previous World Cups in 2010, 2014, and 2018 – 56 days. It implies that teams advancing to the final will now have to play eight matches, as opposed to the seven played by Qatar 2022 finalists Argentina and France. The final in the United States is scheduled for July 19, 2026.
“Essentially, the football calendar must be adjusted. The extended World Cup format announced for 2026 implies that additional games will be crammed into an already overloaded calendar,” PFA CEO Maheta Molango said about the World Cup proposals. “FIFA has listened to players’ concerns and formed a working group to address the crucial issues of fixture congestion and player welfare. But, it’s difficult to see how it fits with the ever-expanding local and international calendars. We know that the present strain that athletes are subjected to has a long-term impact on their well-being, both on and off the field. We can’t just keep pushing until they break.”
Plans for an expanded Club World Cup, with Chelsea playing in the first edition in the summer of 2025, were also endorsed by the FIFA Council in Rwanda. The four Champions League winners from 2021 to 2024 will qualify for the competition, ensuring a berth for Chelsea and last year’s champions Real Madrid, as well as the winners from 2023 and 2024. Twelve of the 32 participating teams will be European, and the event will be conducted every four years.
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