Fifa plan big changes a World Cup 2026starting from the number of teams participating in the match schedule.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in three countries simultaneously, namely the United States, Canada and Mexico. Although there are still 3.5 years to go, the preparations for world football ecstasy are already underway.
FIFA plans to increase the number of participants for the 2026 World Cup in the hope that more countries will take part in world football, including teams that have never appeared at the World Cup.
The World Cup currently features 32 teams from all confederations around the world. There are 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup.
Participants will be divided into 12 groups of four teams. Previously, FIFA had thought of dividing the participants into 16 groups of three teams each.
As a result, the number of preliminary round matches will reach 104 matches compared to the previous 64 meetings. The group winners and runners-up will advance to the round of 32.
“The world football body plans to change the 16-group plan containing three teams, to a longer group stage in 12 groups with four teams. Then the teams that qualify will advance to the knockout stage of the round of 32,” he wrote The Guardian.
Then in the report launched by The Athletic Brand, FIFA is also considering changing the format of matches in the preliminary round. Penalties are awarded to the winner if the match ends in a draw in regular time.
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FIFA is targeting attendance and the number of matches for the 2026 World Cup, which will be significantly more than this year. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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“FIFA is considering that in the group stage matches will be decided on penalties to find a clearer winner than under the current regulation, when the number of cards can determine tickets for the second round,” Marca wrote.
In FIFA’s consideration, if the preliminary round match is decided by a penalty shoot-out, the winner of the match will get two points. The losing team will receive one point. The winner of the regular time match will still receive three points.
(ikw/nva)
