This is the first time in history that the biggest football festival on the planet has been held on an expanded scale from 32 to 48 teams, marking a significant turning point for world football.
Based on the qualifying results, the final spots were determined through a series of play-off matches, completing the picture of 48 teams from 6 continental confederations. Of these, Europe contributed 16 representatives, Asia 9 teams, Africa 10 teams, South America 6 teams, North and Central America and the Caribbean 6 teams (including 3 host teams), and 1 representative from Oceania.
Notably, the 2026 World Cup will see the participation of many "newcomers" such as Uzbekistan, Jordan, Curaçao, and Cape Verde, demonstrating the positive impact of expanding the number of participating teams and creating more opportunities for developing football nations. In addition, several historically significant teams will return after a period of absence, promising exciting competition.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June to July 2026 in three co-hosting countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament is expected to have 104 matches, a significant increase from the 64 matches in previous editions, with a format of 12 groups, selecting 32 teams to advance to the knockout round.
Increasing the number of teams to 48 not only expands the scale but is also expected to increase the competitiveness and global reach of football, as many countries participate in the World Cup for the first time, creating a new look for the most prestigious tournament on the planet.
Italy missed out on the 2026 World Cup finals after their defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina in the play-off match on the morning of April 1st. This marks the fourth time in history that the Azzurri have failed to qualify for the World Cup. Notably, Italy has missed the last three World Cups (2018, 2022, and 2026), in addition to failing to qualify for the 1958 tournament held in Sweden.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/xac-dinh-du-48-doi-du-world-cup-2026-i801268/
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