The 2026 World Cup will have 80 games… or 104!

The World Cup 2022 This will be the last game of the 32 national teams. For the next edition of the tournament, which will be played simultaneously in between Canada, United States and Mexico in 2026the participation of up to 48 combinedthat is, 50% more than those present this week in Qatar.

What does this increase mean, unanimously approved by FIFA five years ago? At first, a great increase in the number of parties, with the current format and current number of participants. Today, there are 64 matches played within the framework of a World Cup with 32 participants.

In 2026, the number of parties it will take up to 80 or 104, depending on which competition model is finally applied. At first, what was approved went through 16 groups of three teams each, with the first two qualifying for the next round. This means three matches in each group (48) and the round of 16 (16 matches), eighth (8), quarterfinals (4), semifinals (2), consolation final (1) and final (1), for total 80.

However, in recent days the possibility is growing that the group of four, as today, where there will be 12, who will qualify, also for the sixteenth, the first two in each group and the four best third. This will mean six games for each group (72), the round of 16 (16), eighth (8), quarterfinals (4), semifinals (2), consolation final (1) and final (1), reaching a total of 104 encounters.

the 48 seats will be distributed as follows: 16 for UEFA (13 so far), 9 for the African Confederation (it has 5), 8 for the Asian Confederation (it has 4.5 seats), 6 for Concacaf (it has 3.5) and another 6 for Conmebol ( 4.5 so far) and 1 for Oceania (it has 0.5). The two remaining places are a play off between five teams from the confederations (except UEFA) and one from the confederation of the host countries.