Crazy Fifa plan: 104 matches at the 2026 mega World Cup

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The 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico will be held for the first time in history with 48 teams.

A mode with 16 groups of three was originally planned for this. However, the idea was criticized: it was feared that there could be conspiracy, since a nation would always have been game-free.

One more game until the world title

According to a New York Times report, the mode should be changed to twelve groups of four. The tournament would therefore be played with 104 games – that is 40 games more than at the 2022 World Cup. 32 teams started in Qatar, divided into eight groups of four.

With the new mode, the top eight groups in third place would likely advance alongside the group winners and runners-up. In the knockout phase there would be another round with a round of 16. For the countries, the mode would mean an eighth match on their way to the world title. The tournament would then last 40 days instead of the previous month.

“Groups of four were incredible”

Fifa president Gianni Infantino (52) has already praised Qatar’s group of four mode at the highest pitch: “Here the groups of four were absolutely incredible, in that it was open until the last minute of the last game who would progress”.

The final decision is expected to be made on Tuesday at a FIFA meeting in Rwanda. (byl)

Source : Blick