FIFA approves 48 -team world Cup as of 2026

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, really wanted to increase the number of teams competing in the World Cup. Just as rearlier annonced, the FIFA’s rulling councilunanimousely approved an expansion of the world Cup to 48 teams in 2026, with a format of 16 groups of three nations.

The president of FIFA Gianni Infantino had proposed to extend the World Cup to 48 selections in 2026, after having announced his wish to bring the participation of 32 to 40 teams before his election, said Monday in an intervention in Bogota. One could decide that the 16 best teams are qualified for the group stage of the World Cup and that the 32 others play a preliminary game of dams three days before the start of the World Cup to determine the 16 other teams, "said the leader of 46, who replaced his compatriot Sepp Blatter in February.

Africa towards better representation

In his bid to take the reins of the world football body, UEFA's former Secretary General and No. 2 Michel Platini had repeatedly expressed his wish that the world showcase of the sport of the sport would go from 32 Teams, as is currently the case, to 40 from the World Cup 2026.

"I believe that for the 2026 World Cup we should have 40 teams and among the eight extra teams there should be at least two African nations," he said on July 25, Found in Nigeria. After editions 2014, 2018 and 2022 respectively in Brazil, Russia and Qatar, the American continent could once again have high chances of obtaining the organization of the World Cup in 2026.