FIFA President Calls For World Cup To Expand To 48 Teams for '26 Tournament

The World Cup is "set to be expanded to 48 teams" for the '26 tournament with 16 groups of three countries in the first stage, according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. FIFA President Gianni Infantino "will push for that format, with two countries from each group going into a knockout round of 32," when the FIFA Council makes a decision next month. That format "could throw up potential problems," as it would mean one team in each group not being in action when the final match is played. That "could be a disadvantage if the two countries in action only need a draw to qualify for the knockout round." Infantino "made his views clear in a letter" to FIFA Council members, where five different options were outlined. They include leaving the tournament at 32 teams, expanding to 40 with either 10 groups of four or eight groups of five, or to 48 with either a 32-team playoff round to decide who joins 16 seeded teams in the present format or 16 three-team groups (LONDON TIMES, 12/8).