FIFA World Cup to have 40 more matches in 2026

Fifa approves 2026 World Cup format with record 104 matches

The 2026 World Cup will have 104 matches instead of the traditional 64 games due to the expanded format with 48 teams taking part, global soccer governing body Fifa said on Tuesday ahead of its Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.

FIFA confirms expanded 2026 World Cup will have 104 matches with 12 groups

This will be the first time ever that a FIFA World Cup will have 48 teams participating. The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar had 32 teams.

Why FIFA changed the format for the 2026 World Cup

The original format for the 2026 tournament in the U.S., Mexico and Canada was adopted by the Council in January 2017 when the World Cup was expanded from 32 nations to 48 starting in 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026 to feature 12 groups of four teams

KIGALI: The expanded 2026 men's World Cup in North America will start with 12 groups of four teams in a change from the original planned format of 16 groups of three, football's world governing body FIFA announced on Tuesday.

World Cup 2026 to feature 12 groups of four teams

The expanded 2026 men's World Cup in North America will start with 12 groups of four teams in a change from the original planned format of 16 groups of three.

FIFA approves 2026 World Cup format with record 104 matches

The new format will also stick to drawing four teams in a group after a proposal for 16 groups of three was shot down over fears of collusion in the final group game.