FIFA World Cup to Feature 48 Teams Starting 2026

The Spanish national team celebrate after their World Cup win in 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: Anthony Stanley / Flickr

ZURICH — FIFA says it will expand the World Cup to 48 teams, adding 16 extra nations to the 2026 tournament.

President Gianni Infantino’s favored plan  for 16 three-team groups with the top two advancing to a round of 32  was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council.

It meets Infantino’s election pledge of a bigger World Cup, and should help fund promised raises for FIFA’s 211 members.

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With 80 matches instead of 64, FIFA forecasts $1 billion extra income from broadcasting and sponsor deals, plus ticket sales, compared to $5.5 billion forecast for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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FIFA’s six continents should find out by May how many extra places they will get.

UEFA wants 16 European teams in the tournament, which will likely be held in North America.