However, all eyes are focused on the next edition of 2026. Indeed, it will experience new changes which should be highlighted in this article.
A novelty: three host countries
In twenty-two editions, the World Cup has only had one joint organization by Japan and South Korea in 2002. But the next edition will be held for the first time in history in three countries (Mexico , Canada, United States). It should be noted that the host countries of the event belong to the same football confederation (CONCACAF). To host the competition, sixteen cities from the three countries have been designated as follows:
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États-Unis : Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New-York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle
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Canada: Toronto and Vancouver
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Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey.
From June 11, 2026 to July 19, 2026, the host countries of the 2025 World Cup will keep the football world in suspense. Hostilities will begin in Mexico City (Azteca stadium). The competition will reach its climax in the United States in New York New Jersey.
A larger number of participants
The next edition of the Cup which will be held in Mexico, Canada and the United States will see a change in format. You had to go back to France 98 to see the last expansion of the competition. Since this edition, the tournament has included thirty-two teams arranged in eight groups of four teams.
But from 2026, twelve places will be added for a new number of forty-eight participants. Indeed, for a long time, there had been talk of setting up a tournament with sixteen groups of three teams. Finally, a format of twelve groups from four countries is chosen.
Furthermore, until 2022, only the best two nations in each group qualified for the round of 16. In 2026, in addition to the first two in each group, the eight best third-place finishers also validate their tickets for the next round.
Instead of a round of 16, the qualified countries will play in the round of 16. To reach the final or classification match, teams will have to play eight matches compared to seven under the old format.
At the next World Cup in 2026, teams will play approximately one hundred and four matches compared to sixty-four in 2022. This increased number of matches will also provide more opportunities for betting fans to follow and bet on their favorite teams.
The distribution of teams for the 2026 World Cup
For the next 2026 World Cup with forty-eight teams, UEFA (Europe) will have sixteen countries represented. CONMEBOL (South America) will send six to seven representatives. CONCACAF has six to eight countries, including the United States, Mexico and Canada. CAF (Africa) will get ten or eleven representatives while OFC (Oceania) will send a single team. The AFC (Asia) will rely on eight or nine representatives.
The progress of the qualifications
As part of the 2026 World Cup, it is up to each confederation to set up a calendar for the qualifiers for its zone. Qualifying matches have started in South America, Asia and Africa since 2023.
However, it should be noted that the United States, Mexico and Canada are automatically qualified for the competition in their capacity as organizing countries. Exempt from qualifying matches, they will have to make do with friendly matches to prepare. Despite this automatic qualification, sports betting platforms will offer odds and predictions on their potential course, fueling discussions and enthusiasm among supporters.
In Oceania, North America and Central America, the qualifying matches started in 2024. In addition, the draw for the qualifying matches in the Europe zone is made on December 13, 2024. The matches will begin in March 2025 and end in November 2025.
A competition over a greater number of days
If the previous World Cup in Qatar in 2022 took place over around twenty-eight days, the next one will be different. Indeed, in 2026, the competition will last fifty-six days. This duration is sufficient to allow the thirty-nine competitive squads to distribute the hundred matches planned.
The FIFA president believes that the fifty-six days of competition will increase revenues. It should be remembered that the venues hosting the matches are usually dedicated to American football. They can therefore hold between 80,000 and 90,000 sold-out spectators.
Significant financial benefits
The new reform of the World Cup format is not only to please the football confederations. Beyond the increasing number of participants, financial revenues will also have to grow significantly. Internally, around 640 million additional profits are announced.
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