2026 FIFA World Cup expands to 48 teams for North America event
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 10, 2026, 9:30 AM
Last updated Jun 10, 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in North America, featuring an expanded format of 48 teams. The tournament will include 12 groups of four, allowing 16 additional teams compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The increase raises the total number of matches to 104, with a new knockout stage structure that advances the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams to a newly created round of 32. This expansion aims to promote global inclusion and provide more opportunities for countries to compete on the World Cup stage.
- •Tournament scheduled for June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the USA
- •Group stage includes 12 groups of four teams each
- •Total number of matches increases to 104
- •Top two teams and eight best third-placed teams advance to knockout stage
- •Champion will play a total of eight matches
- 9:30 AMYahoo Sports — 2026 FIFA World Cup: Why did the tournament expand from 32 to 48 teams?
"The 2026 FIFA World Cup, returning to North America, will feature a new format with 48 teams, up from 32.
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