FIFA World Cup 2026: What to expect from the World

FIFA World Cup 2026: What to expect from the World

Why will there be more teams in 2026 than ever before?

FIFA increases number of consecutive Men's World Cup finals from 32 to 48 teams. That means more money will be generated from sponsorships, merchandising, ticket sales and TV revenue, with Fifa expected to earn $11 billion over a four-year cycle through December 2026. Fifa assumes that up to 5.5 million fans will attend the next game. tournament and broke a record of 3.In 1994, 6 million fans attended the games while the average viewership per game was 68,000, . The governing body says much of the increased profits will go towards developing football around the world, with projects involving investments in women's football development.

Where will the games be played in the Year of 2026?

In June, 16 venues were announced, with all stadiums already built and most of the major stadiums used by NFL teams in the United States. Some stadiums will be upgraded before 2026 and some will require grass pitches as artificial grass is not approved by FIFA. From the looks of it, the 2026 format will feature 80 games throughout the tournament, although that could change. The United States will host 60 games, including all quarterfinal games, while neighbors Canada and Mexico will host 10 games each. The United States and Mexico have already hosted the World Cup, but most of the venues will be different in 2026. The United States has not used stadiums since 1994, while Mexico had only one between 1970 and 1986: l the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

How will the 2026 finals be organized?

The final decision will be made by the FIFA Council in 2023. The preferred initial option was 16 groups of three teams. Each team would play two group games instead of three, with the top two teams progressing to a new round of 32. However, the disadvantage of doing this could be that the two teams playing in the final match could reach a certain score to overtake both teams. This was to happen in 1982, when West Germany and Austria advanced at Algeria's expense in the so-called "Gijon disaster." Given the success of the four-team group format in 2022, the structure will be changed for 2026, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "I have to say that after this World Cup and the success of the groups of four, we need to review the format or re-discuss whether we move to 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four." Another possibility, albeit unlikely, is that the group games will not end in a draw. If the teams are tied after 90 minutes, the result could be decided by a penalty shootout without the need for extra time.

Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup final be held?

This decision has not yet been made, but will be made next year. The favorite to host the Finals is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has an 82,500 capacity and is home to the NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets. Mexico's Azteca has been teased as a potential host for the opening game. Both venues are candidates to host the final in 2026, but FIFA President Infantino said world football's governing body was in no rush to make a decision. "We still have some talks to do and we will definitely choose the best cities for the opening and final tournaments," said Infantino.

FIFA World Cups in history, but 2026 will be completely different.

While this time all games were played within an hour's drive, the next World Cup will be played in three countries: Canada, the United States and Mexico. And it will be an expanded competition with 16 other teams, which means more games. However, the tournament will be played over five weeks from mid-June 2026. questions will be asked about the number of road trips players and fans will have to take as the tournament is played in 11 cities across the United States, three locations in Mexico and two in Canada. Sustainability will therefore be an important consideration with the significant number of flights required to transport FIFA teams, fans, media and officials across the three countries.

what about the year of 2030?

It will be a special 100th anniversary event, 100 years after the inaugural FIFA World Cup in Uruguay, which only featured 13 teams. Uruguay have long argued that they should host the tournament, possibly as part of a joint bid with Argentina. Spain and Portugal are hoping to be fielded by UEFA but England have lost interest in a UEFA Euro 2028 bid alongside Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Saudi Arabia could be another potential contender, although that could mean another winter tournament due to the Middle East's high summer temperatures. The decision on the host of the 2030 tournament will be made by the FIFA Council in 2024.