The World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the last that is played with only 32 national teams. The next World Cup, taking place in Canada, the U.S.A, and Mexico in 2026, will have up to 48 teams, this represents a 50% increase compared to the current tournament in Qatar.
What does this number of teams imply? For once, many more matches. Under the current format, the World Cup features 32 teams and 64 matches in total.
In 2026, the number of matches will skyrocket to 80 or even 104 depending on the format that FIFA chooses to adopt. At the moment, the organizations is leaning towards 16 3-team groups, with the two top squads qualifying for the next round. This means we’ll have three matches per group (48) and then the round of 32 (16 matches), the round of 16 (8), quarterfinals (4), semifinals (2) the match for third place, and the final.
However, there’s a growing possibility that the 4-time groups will continue in the next tournament, just like in the current format, which means 12 4-team groups, with the top two, and the 4 best third places qualifying for the round of 32, and. This means six matches per group (72), the round of 32 (16), the round of 16 (8), the quarterfinals (4), the semifinals (2), the match for third place, and the final, for a total of 104 matches.
The 48 spots will be distributed in the following way:
16 for UEFA (currently at 13)
9 for the Confederation of African Football (currently at 5)
8 for the Asian Football Confederation (currently at 4,5)
6 for CONCACAF (currently at 3,5)
6 for CONMEBOL (currently at 4,5)
1 for Oceania (currently at 0,5).
The two remaining spots will come out of a playoff between the five continental federations (except for UEFA) and one for the host nations.
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