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FIFA is planning to expand the number of teams for the next World Cup 2026 to have 104 matches in total

FIFA is planning to expand the number of teams for the next World Cup 2026 to have 104 matches in total is planning to expand the number of teams for the next World Cup 2026 to have 104 matches in total
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The group stage of Qatar 2022 has only just ended and FIFA is already organizing the next FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by three nations for the first time in its existence, Canada, the United States and the Mexico. The tournament, which is still three and a half years away, will have an increment of play, the reason is supposed to put on a bigger show and obviously generate several million more.

To that end, the world’s largest football organization plans to change the format of the tournament to have a total of 104 matches throughout the competition.

32 teams in the knockout stage

According to The Guardian, FIFA will change their initial idea of ​​having 16 groups of three teams each, for a very long group stage of 12 sectors with four teams each, to a round of 32 teams to start the knockout phase. .

Currently, the 32 teams are divided into 8 groups of 4 teams each, where the first and second place in each group qualify for the round of 16.

104 games in total
With this change, the 2026 World Cup would have a total of 104 matches, 40 more than those scheduled for Qatar 2022, including the group stage and the qualifiers.

Among other changes according to The Athletic, FIFA is considering that in the event of a tie in the group stage, matches will be defined in a penalty shootout to determine a winner and there will be a tiebreaker much more. clear than those currently applied, where even the number of cards or even a raffle can define the ticket for the second round.

The idea of ​​FIFA is that in case of victory the winner gets three points and a penalty shootout winner, after a draw in regular time, gets two points, while the penalty shootout loser gets one a.

How many places will each Confederation have in North America in 2026?
The next World Cup will award 16 tickets more than those granted so far. One of the most profitable confederations will be CONCACAF, which, in addition to the three direct tickets for the hosts, will have three other qualifying places. Here is the breakdown by confederation:

UEFA: will increase the number of tickets available from 13 to 16.
CAF (Africa): nine direct tickets and half a ticket to play in the play-off.
CAF (Asia): will have 8 direct entries
Conmebol: Six direct tickets and a half-ticket to be played via the Play-offs
CONCACAF: Three direct tickets (in addition to the three from the hosts) and an additional half-place via the Play-offs.
OFC (Oceania): For the first time in history, it will have a direct ticket and an additional half-ticket via the Play-offs.

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