FIFA increases number of football teams to 48 in 2026 World Cup

Last updated: January 10, 2017 6:55 pm

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UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino asks the audience for silence before the draw for the play-off matches for UEFA Euro 2016 at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, October 18, 2015. The draw will define the four pairings as well as the order of the home-and-away ties. The first legs will be played between 12 and 14 November and the return legs between 15 and 17 November in line with the Week of Football match pattern. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

In the past years, it was common that 32 football teams participate in the FIFA World Cup, which will also happen in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

However, the president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, previously suggested increasing the number of participating teams to 48.

Some, such as the intermediate teams, welcomed the idea, as the suggestion represents an opportunity for them to take part in one of the most important sports events worldwide.

Retired Argentinean football player Diego Maradona welcomed the idea, while several federations did not, as they believed that this would impact the level of the competition.

Members of the FIFA executive committee had a meeting on Tuesday in Zurich, Switzerland, in which they agreed by voting on increasing the teams to 48.

This will be applied in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The competitions will be divided into 16 groups, and each group will be divided to three national teams. The first two of each group, representing 32 teams, will then be selected to play the playoffs’ rounds.