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The updated FIFA World Cup structure for 2026

The updated FIFA World Cup structure for 2026
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The FIFA World Cup has undergone numerous changes since it began in 1930. The tournament this year in North America follows suit, with shifts in participant numbers and overall structure marking a fresh approach.

What makes the 2026 FIFA World Cup stand out?

In contrast to earlier editions, the 2026 version marks the debut for a tri-nation hosting arrangement and includes 48 competing teams. This growth concludes the 32-team phase that shaped events from France 1998 up to Qatar 2022.

Number of teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup involves 48 teams, representing a 50 per cent rise compared to prior tournaments. These are organised into 12 groups containing four teams each.

The competition adheres to the standard single round-robin setup, where each country plays the others in its group once, resulting in three matches per team. The leading two from every group, plus the top eight third-placed sides, proceed to the knockout rounds.

Updated FIFA World Cup qualification spots: Which regions benefit most?

The larger field allows for broader worldwide involvement across confederations and continents. CAF for Africa and AFC for Asia experience the biggest proportional boosts in automatic qualification places, yet UEFA for Europe holds the highest allocation with 16 spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The distribution of the 46 automatic qualification spots is as follows:

  • UEFA (Europe): Rose from 13 to 16 automatic spots

  • CAF (Africa): Rose from 5 to 9 automatic spots

  • AFC (Asia): Rose from 4 or 5 to 8 automatic spots

  • CONMEBOL (South America): Rose from 4 or 5 to 6 automatic spots

  • CONCACAF (North and Central America): 6 automatic spots (covering hosts USA, Canada, Mexico)

  • OFC (Oceania): 1 automatic spot (secured for the initial occasion)

The final two positions will be determined through a six-team playoff across confederations, scheduled for March 2026.

Total matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup across USA, Canada, and Mexico

The biggest alteration concerns the overall number of fixtures. The 2026 FIFA World Cup includes 104 games (adding 40), a substantial 62.5 per cent jump from the 64-game model employed from 1998 to 2022. This adds at least 3,600 minutes of World Cup coverage via broadcast and streaming, amounting to a minimum of 9,360 minutes of global football transmitted to more than 200 nations and regions.

Matches per stage in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Featuring 48 teams rather than 32, the groups expand from eight sets of four to 12 sets of four. Consequently, the group phase will comprise 72 contests, up by 24 from the 48 seen in World Cups between 1998 and 2022.

The knockout phase expands by 16 games with the addition of the round of 32. Thus, it shifts from 16 knockout matches in past events to 32 in 2026, accessible via television and live streams worldwide, such as Fox Sports and Telemundo in the USA, ITV and BBC in the UK, and CTV, TSN, RDS in Canada. A summary by stage appears below:

  • Group stage: 72 matches (increased from 48)

  • Knockout stage: 32 matches (increased from 16)

  • Total in FIFA World Cup: 104 matches (increased from 64)

Understanding the round of 32

This enlargement brings a novel knockout stage known as the round of 32. In the past, sides moved directly from groups to the round of 16. Presently, 16 additional games form this stage, involving the top two from each of the 12 groups alongside the eight strongest third-placed teams.

Impact of the format on reaching the final

Securing the World Cup title demands more endurance now. To claim the prize at MetLife Stadium on 19 July 2026, the winner must contest eight fixtures (3 in groups plus 5 in knockouts). This exceeds the seven-match total from the former 32-team format by one.

Does the 2026 FIFA World Cup set a duration record?

Indeed. Spanning 39 days from 11 June to 19 July, it outlasts the 29-day Qatar edition by a wide margin.

That said, the 2030 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, may extend further to include special centenary fixtures in South America.