FIFA, the governing body of world football, has announced that the format for the expanded 2026 World Cup will revert to four-team groups. The decision was made after the success of the four-team format at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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| Fifa 2026 |
Originally, the United States, Mexico, and Canada were due to feature 16 groups of three because the number of teams is increasing from 32 to 48. However, FIFA reconsidered the format due to the positive feedback from the 2022 tournament.
Revised Format for the World Cup
The new format will expand the competition from its projected 80 matches to 104, including a new round-of-32 stage. Under the new format, the top two and eight best third-placed teams would progress to the last 32. FIFA stated that the revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams.
The four-team group format, with the top two going through to the knockout stages, has been used since the men's World Cup expanded to 32 teams in 1998. The new round-of-32 stage means teams will have to play eight matches to win the tournament, compared to seven at the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA's Approval and Plans for the Future
FIFA approved a men's international match calendar from 2025-2030, and the organization said that the "mandatory" date for which clubs must release players for the tournament will start on May 25, 2026. The final of the 2026 World Cup will be played on July 19, 2026. The women's international match calendar remains the same, with six international windows per year, including the women's Olympic football tournament, which will take place from July 25 to August 10, 2024.
FIFA also approved the access list for the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place every four years from June 2025. Teams who win their confederation's top tournament in the four-year period of the seasons ending in 2021 and 2024 will qualify, where they have enough places. Europe has 12 places in the new tournament, and Chelsea and Real Madrid, who won the Champions League in 2021 and 2022 respectively, have already secured their spots.
Fianlly
FIFA's decision to revert to the four-team group format for the 2026 World Cup is a positive move that will provide a balanced playing field for all teams. The revised format ensures that all teams play a minimum of three matches, and the new round-of-32 stage adds excitement to the tournament. FIFA's approval of the men's international match calendar and the plans for the FIFA Club World Cup show the organization's commitment to promoting and developing football globally.
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2026 World Cup, FIFA, Format Changes, Four-Team Groups, Round of 32, Men's International Match Calendar, Club World Cup, Soccer, Football.
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