The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to bear a serious format change.

The event, which is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US, will function 48 groups, 16 greater than the present 32. The spots are as follows: 8 from Asia, 9 from Africa, 6 from North and Central America, 6 from South America, 1 from Oceania, 16 from Europe and a couple of playoff slots.

So how will these 48 groups compete? FIFA’s preliminary plan was to divide the groups into sixteen teams of three groups, with the highest two groups advancing to the knockout stage, which might begin from the Spherical of 32. In idea, the successful staff should play seven matches to win the match. Championship, the identical quantity as the present format.

Nonetheless, this methodology raised lots of questions. Firstly, a 3rd of the competitors being knocked out of the event after solely two video games had been performed, was seen as a waste. Then again, for the reason that format would stop the ultimate group matches from being performed concurrently, match-fixing for a extra favorable final result may very well be problematic. An notorious instance was the match between Austria and West Germany on the 1982 World Cup, when the 2 groups blatantly gave up the sport for each to qualify after rivals Algeria completed of their backside spot. On the time, the final spherical of matches weren’t performed on the identical time, therefore the scandal.

Based on a number of studies, FIFA seems to have modified its thoughts, switching to a format that features 12 teams of 4 groups. The highest two groups from every group will advance to the knockout stage, joined by eight of the third-placed groups. The format is kind of much like the present Euro format, solely twice the scale. This implies extra matches – the successful staff has to play eight matches as an alternative of seven.

Extra particulars are set to observe, together with official dates and instances for the video games in addition to venues. Nonetheless, there was just one official date launched: The ultimate will happen on Sunday, July nineteenth. The venue for the ultimate is just not but identified, however MetLife Stadium, the house of the staff. New York Giants and the New York Jets, is a potential candidate. I did not suppose we would see the World Cup Remaining in New Jersey, however right here we’re.