international
What to expect from the 48-team format at the World Cup 2026
Key takeaways
- Al Jazeera examines key talking points related to the introduction of an expanded 48-nation tournament.
- Featuring 48 teams from across six confederations, the tournament will be the biggest in the competition’s 96-year history.
- From minnows to giants, there is a place for one and all in the new expanded format, but how does it benefit the global game, and what are the potential drawbacks of opening the door to more teams?
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Al Jazeera examines key talking points related to the introduction of an expanded 48-nation tournament.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four [Patrick T Fallon/AFP]Published On 14 May 202614 May 2026The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one like never before.
Featuring 48 teams from across six confederations, the tournament will be the biggest in the competition’s 96-year history.
Article preview — originally published by Al Jazeera. Full story at the source.
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