The FIFA Council and all six continental football federations have agreed to change the 2026 FIFA World Cup system, increasing the number of teams from 32 to 48, playing 104 matches instead of 64.
The FIFA Council and all six continental football confederations attended the 73rd FIFA Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, to decide on changes to the football competition system. Both men's and women's football Including adjusting the system for the 2026 World Cup in which the United States, Canada and Mexico will be co-hosted. With the addition of teams from the original 32 nations to 48 nations and will compete in the group stage divided into 12 groups, 4 teams per group, where the team that will qualify for the final 32 knockout teams is the 1st and 2nd place of each group together with the rankings. 3 best 8 teams competed in a total of 104 matches from the original 64 matches and will finish within 39 days by the teams that reach the finals. Will enter the field for all 8 matches, which determine the final match On Sunday, July 19, 2026 .
Source: Thai News Agency