© PA
Officially - in 2026 we will see the World Cup with a changed format.
Today FIFA has approved a new World Cup format with more teams and matches in Rwanda.
In the upcoming global competition, we will see 48 national teams, which will be divided into 12 groups of 4 teams. We will also see an additional knockout stage - the round of 16.
From the groups, 32 out of 48 teams will advance - the teams that finish in the first 2 places and the 8 strongest teams that finish in third place.
Initially, the option of 16 groups of 3 teams was considered, but due to the possible "Chichon disgrace" case, which occurred in 1982, it was rejected.
A total of 104 matches will be played in the 2026 World Cup.
It is announced that FIFA could earn more than 12 billion dollars from such a tournament.
🚨🌎 New FIFA World Cup format for 2026:
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 14, 2023
➤ 104 total games
➤ 48 teams
➤ 12 groups of 4, 3 games played
➤ Top 2 teams in each group + 8 best 3rd-placed teams advance pic.twitter.com/IqY1McANgL
