How far will the authorities be distorted the traditions of football that have largely contributed to the number 1 sport? From 1998, the World Cup certainly had the best possible competition format with a group phase between 32 teams before the round of 16. But FIFA switched to another delirium by increasing the number of participants to 48 for the 2026 edition organized in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
To win the World Cup 26 (fully disputed in the US from the quarter -finals), you will have to play a match more than before. The first phase offers 12 groups of four and the first two of each hen as well as the best eight thirds will meet for 16th finals.
What possibly destroy the final table with XXL imbalances. First eight will face third groups, while the other four group winners will come across a second. And there will also be four confrontations between seconds during these 16th … Several favorites with the Supreme coronation could compete in the eighths.
The 2030 World Cup in six countries
We could go even more, since the Conmebol, the South American Confederation, asks to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 national selections. The 2030 -year -old World Cup is playing in six countries! Morocco, Portugal and Spain are the hosts of the competition (we do not know where the final will be played), but Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay have obtained an opening match to celebrate the centenary of the 1930 World Cup (only disputed in Montevideo).
If FIFA accepts the request of CONMEBOL -which wishes to accommodate three groups in full and not only three matches -, it will be necessary to change the format again. That said, the solution is very simple: 16 groups will be formed for the first round (instead of 12 for 2026) and the first two of each hen will access the 16th finals. There would be no more improbable qualification as a group third.
