There will be 48 teams participating and 104 matches.

The world football governing body (FIFA) held a council meeting in the capital Kigali of Rwanda on March 14 to approve the new competition format for the 2026 World Cup.

At this meeting, FIFA agreed on a new competition format for the 2026 World Cup, the world's biggest football festival co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Accordingly, the 2026 World Cup is expected to have the participation of 48 teams divided into 12 groups, each group has 4 teams. After the end of the group stage, the 2 teams ranked first and second in each group and the 8 third-placed teams with the best results will qualify for the round of 32. Then the teams will play a direct knockout match until the final.

With this new competition format, the 2026 World Cup will have 104 matches, including 72 group stage matches, 16 round of 32 matches, 8 round of 16 matches, 4 quarter-finals, 2 semi-finals, third place match and final.

Unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2026 World Cup will last 39 days instead of 29. In addition, clubs will have to release players to national teams at least 17 days before the tournament takes place. Thus, the 2026 World Cup will become the World Cup with the largest number of participating teams, the most matches, and the longest duration in history.

Previously, many opinions said that FIFA would divide the 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup into 16 groups, each group of 3 teams. At the end of the group stage, the 16 group winners will qualify for the next round. The advantage of this format is that it only increases the number of matches from 64 as in the last World Cup to 80 matches. However, with each group of 3 teams, FIFA is concerned about many risks such as lack of competition, and especially the problem of arranging to join hands to win the right to continue.

The annual congress of the world's largest football organization will also be held this weekend to officially announce the new competition format of the 2026 World Cup.

VIET CHUNG

Commentary: World Cup Fever

These days, it seems that football people and fans all over the country are talking about the World Cup dream and waiting and scrutinizing every step and action of the country's football machine. Is it wishful thinking and impatience? Is it a far cry from reality?