Three hosts, 48 teams and 80 games: How the 2026 FIFA World

Three hosts, 48 teams and 80 games: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup will work (msn.com)

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Three hosts, 48 teams and 80 games: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup will work

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The World Cup is growing.

Three hosts, 48 teams and 80 games: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup will work© Provided by DAZN News

For the first time since the 1998 tournament in France, the World Cup will in 2026 will be bigger than the previous edition. Co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States will welcome 48 teams to the quadrennial, a 50 percent increase over Qatar 2022.

The very fact that games will be staged in three countries is new, too — the North American triumvirate will be the first three-country co-hosts for a World Cup.

MORE: Is Lionel Messi the greatest of all time?

More teams means more games, and FIFA says there will be 80 matches played at the 2026 competition. The United States will get the lion's share of those games, with 60 matches slated to be played on American soil while Canada and Mexico will each host 10 games.

With such a monumental shift in numbers, the 2026 World Cup will be very different from any of its predecessors. 

Here's how it will work.

Three automatic qualifiers

This one hasn't been confirmed yet, but tradition and logic dictate that all three co-hosts will receive automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup. 

Every tournament in history has seen the hosts involved without having to qualify, including the only other co-hosted tournament (2002 Japan and South Korea). With a vastly expanded field, there's no reason to ask any of Canada, Mexico or the USA to go through the qualification process.

This one makes so much sense that it's bound to happen.

More teams from each confederation

This one is obvious. Every continent will receive more spots at the 2026 World Cup given the decision to add 16 more teams to the equation.

The break down, as confirmed by FIFA in 2017:

• AFC: 81/3
• CAF: 91/3
• CONCACAF: 61/3 + 1/3
• CONMEBOL: 61/3
• OFC: 11/3
• UEFA: 16

The six slots designated as "1/3" will make up an intercontinental playoff for the final two berths at the 2026 World Cup. As hosts, CONCACAF received an extra 1/3 slot.

More groups

As of this writing, the days of the four-team groups appear to be over as FIFA has opted for 16 groups of three in 2026.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 32, assuring that the maximum number of games a team can play at the World Cup is still seven. The reduction in group size also assures that the tournament lasts 32 days.

It's been reported that FIFA may reconsider this format in the lead-up to the tournament.

16 venues

The number of host cities will double from Qatar 2022, with 16 venues set to host in 2026.

United States

11 venues

• MetLife Stadium - East Rutherford, N.J.
• AT&T Stadium - Arlington, Texas. 
• Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, Mo.
• NRG Stadium - Houston, Texas
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta, Ga.
• SoFi Stadium - Inglewood, Calif.
• Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, Pa.
• Lumen Field - Seattle, Wash.
• Levi's Stadium - Santa Clara, Calif.
• Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.
• Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Gardens, Fla.

Mexico

3 venues

• Estadio Azteca - Mexico City
• Estadio BBVA - Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
• Estadio Akron - Guadalajara, Jalisco

Canada

2 venues

• BC Place - Vancouver, B.C.
• BMO Field - Toronto, Ont.

 

 

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