Football World Cup 2026 to have 48 teams
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Council has unanimously backed plans by its president Gianni Infantino to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 32 starting in 2026, the global soccer body said on Tuesday.
The new format will be made up of 16 groups of three teams, FIFA said in a tweet sent by its media department, adding more details will follow after a meeting of the 37-member Council in Zurich on Tuesday.
Mr. Infantino, elected last February to replace a disgraced Sepp Blatter, pledged during his campaign to enlarge the tournament – a promise designed especially to appeal to the bulk of FIFA’s 211-member associations that rarely or never qualify for world cups.
The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team #WorldCup as of 2026:
16 groups of 3 teams. Details to follow after the meeting.— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) January 10, 2017