The men’s World Cup began with 13 teams in Uruguay in 1930. It has grown several times since, and the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico is the largest yet, with 48 teams. Each expansion has raised the same questions about quality, fairness and player welfare.
How the format evolved
- 1930: 13 invited teams.
- 1982: expansion to 24 teams.
- 1998 to 2022: 32 teams in eight groups of four, followed by a knockout stage from the round of 16.
- 2026: 48 teams.
How the 2026 format works
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams advance to a new round of 32, followed by the usual knockout rounds. The tournament has 104 matches, up from 64, and the champions play eight matches instead of seven.
Arguments for and against
Supporters of the expansion point to more opportunities for nations from Africa, Asia, North and Central America and Oceania, and to growth of the game worldwide. Critics worry about:
- weaker group-stage matches and the risk of predictable outcomes;
- third-place qualification creating complicated final group games;
- additional matches in an already congested calendar;
- the environmental and travel costs of a three-country tournament.
Player workload
Players’ unions such as FIFPRO have warned that the number of matches top players play each season, including club competitions, international tournaments and travel, raises injury and burnout risks. Any format decision now involves a balance between revenue and welfare.
Global club competitions
FIFA expanded the Club World Cup to 32 teams in 2025, held in the United States. Separately, a proposed European Super League collapsed within days in 2021 after strong opposition from fans, governments and other clubs. These debates show how sensitive changes to soccer’s competition structure are.
Formats are decided by FIFA’s governing structures; see how soccer is governed. The bigger picture of the game’s challenges is described in the challenges facing soccer today.
