On Tuesday, FIFA approved a new competitive format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups, 16 teams more than usual.
This was one of the decisions taken at the organization’s 73rd Congress, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda, and it was also determined that the 2026 World Cup final, which will be hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, will take place on July 19th.
The proposal was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which thus abandoned the other option, which included a format of 16 groups of three teams each.
In addition to the increase from 32 to 48 teams, the World Championship will now include a round of 16, unlike what has happened so far where the top two teams from eight groups advanced to the round of 16.
So in 2026, in addition to the first two classified, the top eight third-placed teams will also qualify for the round of 16, somewhat similar to what is already happening in the European Championship, in which the top four third place teams. teams also qualify, but in this case for the “eighths”.
Thus, the 2026 World Cup calendar will include 104 matches, which is 40 more than now.
The FIFA Council also approved the creation of a working group to discuss and implement principles for the welfare of football players, such as mandatory rest periods.