World Cup 2026, here is the formula of the tournament – Football

The World largest in the history of soccer. With a new formula that is about to be approved. TO Canada-USA-Mexico 2026 they will participate 48 teams (including 16 European, three more than usual) which will be divided into twelve rounds by four teams. They qualify for round of sixteen – the extra round generated by the transition from 32 to 48 national teams – the first two of each group and the eight best third-placed teams. Then direct elimination, until the final. The FIFA Councilas he reports The Athleticwill give the final go-ahead on Tuesday in Rwanda, in Kigali, where it is currently meeting.

With the new formula, 104 games will be played in 39 days. The triple figure was reached after shelving the idea of ​​sixteen groups of three, a format which would also have risked giving life to many “cookies”, therefore controversies, on the last day of the mini-group. When, accounts in hand, it wouldn’t have been difficult for two national teams to tacitly agree on the result and qualify arm in arm for the next round.

As mentioned, the overseas World Cup will last 39 days, about a week longer than in previous editions. Time that will be gained by cutting part of the preparation to the technical scrutineers, a period that will drop from 23 to 16 days.