What Is The New Format Of The FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA has announced a new format for the FIFA World Cup 2026. There will be 104 matches among 48 teams participating in the upcoming tournament. FIFA has abandoned its disastrous plan for three-team groups and authorized a new model for the 2026 tournament—a 48-team extravaganza hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—six years after initially promising to change the format of the men’s World Cup. The new model, which includes four-team groups and a subsequent 32-team knockout stage, will be more in line with the conventional one. The tournament will have 104 matches overall, an increase from 64, putting a heavier strain on the host cities and players. It will also be one week longer than ever before. Eight third-place teams will advance to the round of 32. After months of deliberation and a final agreement by its Council, a grouping of several of the most influential figures in soccer, FIFA, the game’s worldwide governing body, acknowledged the revisions on Tuesday....