The 2026 World Cup may have 104 matches as an alternative of the normal 64 video games because of the expanded format with 48 groups participating, world soccer governing physique FIFA mentioned on Tuesday forward of its Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
The 2026 version, which shall be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, would be the first version of the quadrennial event the place 48 groups are participating. The last shall be held on July 19.
The new format will even stick with drawing 4 groups in a gaggle after a proposal for 16 teams of three was shot down over fears of collusion within the last group recreation. However, the variety of teams will enhance from eight to 12.
The authentic plan for the 2026 version had a complete of 80 matches however the determination to extend the variety of video games to 104 was authorised by FIFA’s council at a gathering on Tuesday.
Traditionally the highest two groups from every group advance to the final 16 however the 2026 version will even have the eight greatest third-placed groups shifting into the knockout spherical of 32.
“The FIFA Council unanimously authorised the proposed modification to the FIFA World Cup 2026 competitors format” FIFA said.
“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 32-team World Cup in Qatar final 12 months had a complete of 64 matches accomplished in 29 days. The final time Mexico (1986) and the United States (1994) hosted a World Cup, there have been solely 24 groups.
The event has had 32 groups because the 1998 version, with eight teams of 4 and the finalists enjoying seven video games every. But groups reaching the summit conflict in 2026 will now play eight matches in whole.
CLUB COMPETITIONS
FIFA mentioned a 32-team Club World Cup shall be performed each 4 years from June 2025, confirming the announcement made by its president Gianni Infantino in Qatar final 12 months.
Confederation champions from 2021-2024 shall be eligible to play within the new Club World Cup, which implies Chelsea and Real Madrid have already certified.
Should both membership win the Champions League once more, a membership rating calculation primarily based on sporting standards shall be used to find out which different group will qualify.
The present model of the FIFA Club World Cup — an annual competitors with seven groups — shall be discontinued after 2023, with a brand new yearly membership competitors authorised from 2024.
“This competitors will function the champions of the premier membership competitions of all confederations and conclude with a last to be performed at a impartial venue, between the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the winner of intercontinental play-offs between the opposite confederations,” FIFA mentioned.
FIFA said clubs will have to release players for the World Cup from May 25, 2026 unless they are in a major final — such as the Champions League showpiece — for which clubs will have until May 30 to allow players to join their national teams.
“With 56 days, the total combined number of rest, release and tournament days remain identical to the 2010, 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup editions,” FIFA added.
A newly structured worldwide calendar was additionally authorised with nine-day home windows in March and June for 2 video games every, a 16-day window for 4 matches in September-October adopted by one other nine-day two-match window in November.
‘FATIGUE AND BURNOUT’
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) mentioned they had been fearful about “bodily fatigue and psychological burnout” due to the congested schedule with its CEO Maheta Molango saying the football calendar needs a “complete reset”.
“The expanded World Cup format being introduced for 2026 signifies that, but once more, extra video games are being pressured into an already overcrowded schedule,” he mentioned.
The PFA said they were encouraged to see FIFA had prioritised concerns such as the need for a “minimum of 72 hours between games, a mandatory day off each week and an annual rest period”.
“However, it’s very troublesome to see how that aligns with the fixed enlargement of the home and worldwide calendar,” Molango added.
“We know that the current workload players face is having an ongoing impact on their well-being… We can’t simply push them until they break.”
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