FIFA: "Format of the 2026 World Cup" on the agenda of the Council meeting of 10/01/2017

"Format of the 2026 FIFA World Cup" is item 3.2 of the agenda of the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich (SUI) on 10/01/2017.

FIFA has selected four formats for enlargement of the final phase of the World Cup "for consideration and analysis", with detailed formats in a circular addressed to the national federations on 19/12/2016 (see below). Two formats offer an expansion to 40 teams (compared to the 32 teams since the 1998 World Cup in France), and two to 48 teams.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president elected on 26/02/2016, proposed this enlargement in his election manifesto. First a supporter of a format to 40 teams, he also seems to now prefer the option with 48 teams, 16 groups of 3 teams (80 games instead of 64, but still 32 days in total, as in 2018).

• The new format of the final tournament of the World Cup will be applied from the 2026 edition.
  • World Cups 2018 and 2022 will be held with 32 teams in the final phase, as has the case since 1998.

48 team World Cup would allow an 18% increase in revenues

The enlargement of the final tournament of the World Cup from 32 to 48…