Revised format for the 2026 World Cup Finals in North America

[Con M]

FIFA have revised the format of the 2026 Finals to be held in USA/Mexico/Canada.

The last 7 Finals since 1998 have featured 32 Countries split into 8 groups of 4, each Country playing 3 Group games with the top 2 in each Group advancing to the Round-of-Sixteen knockout phase.

There are 211 Countries affiliated to FIFA, with them clamouring to be at the main table of the 4-yearly Finals Tournament, so FIFA expanded to 48 Countries.

Originally they were going to be split into 16 Groups with 3 in each Group = 48.

Fortunately it was subsequently decided to split them into 12 Groups with 4 in each Group, that way guaranteeing each Country plays a minimum of 3 games.

The top 2 in each Group (totalling 24) go through to the new knockout Round-of-Thirty Two, joined by 8 third-paced sides. From there the format continues with the Round-of-Sixteen, then Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and then the World Cup Final.

So in reality it is one extra game (the Round-of-Thirty Two). FIFA has promised to have decent rest days during the Tournament and I haven’t heard if they’re going to allow expanded squads.

Some cynics will understandably say it’s all about he money, but many of the 211-FIFA affiliated Countries want to be at that 4-yearly Tournament. By way of some comparison, there were 206 Countries at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

[Ofor Fuxake]

Care factor zero.

[Nice One Cyril]

It's all about the money.

The extra teams will be rubbish anyway.

[Con M]

It's all about the money.

The extra teams will be rubbish anyway.

Yes Cyril, the money will be huge in USA/Mexico/Canada in 2026.

But some third-placed teams from the Groups stages might upset first-placed seeded teams
In the Round-of-Thirty Two. Remember 2022? The likes of Morocco coming 4th.

Japan , Senegal , Straya , South Korea and the good ol’ USA into the Round-of-Sixteen.

I reckon there might be more surprises in 2026 as more and more Countries keep improving their standards.

ps, as for “Oh for fornication’s sake” ‘care factor zero’ comment, I remember now. In the last 2022 World Cup when the Country “it” is living in narrowly lost 2-1 to Messi’s Argentina World Cup winners “it” was watching reruns of Leave-it-to-Beaver and other old Hollywood reruns.

[ozzie owl]

It's all about the money.

The extra teams will be rubbish anyway.

32 Teams is more than enough for a World Cup , 48 will just dilute the quality.

FIFA all about the money and getting votes to stay /gain power.

Nothing sums up FIFA better than the crazy 32 team World Club Championship.

[Con M]

It's all about the money.

The extra teams will be rubbish anyway.

32 Teams is more than enough for a World Cup , 48 will just dilute the quality.

FIFA all about the money and getting votes to stay /gain power.

Nothing sums up FIFA better than the crazy 32 team World Club Championship.

Agree with you Owl about the annual Club Cup. There was nothing wrong with other Confederations’ Champions playing each other first, with the European Club Champion and the South American Club Champion both coming in at the Semi-Final stage.

But back to the 2026 World Cup. With 211 Countries under FIFA wanting to be at the 4-yearly World Cup Finals festival it was always going to expand.

This 2026 format has just one extra stage, the knockout Round-of-ThirtyTwo. And as for the comment that extra Countries will be rubbish, I can only point to the achievements of the likes of minnows Morocco(4th), Turkey(3rd), South Korea(4th) and Bulgaria(4th) down the years.

[The Bourne Identity]

Cool story bro