The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one like never before.Featuring 48 teams from across six confederations, the tournament will be the biggest in the competition’s 96-year history.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listWhat once started as a mere 13-team World Cup has now expanded by nearly four times.From minnows to giants, there is a place for one and all in the new expanded format, but how does it benefit the global game, and what are the potential drawbacks of opening the door to more teams?All to know about the new format before the tournament start on June 11:How the 48-team format worksThe participating nations are divided into 12 groups of four teams each, replacing the previous 32-team, eight-group format.The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.From there on, it’s a straightforward knockout format, followed by the last-16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, thinks expanding the tournament is a step towards making football “truly global” and raising the standards.Nearly a quarter of the 211 FIFA national member associations worldwide will be represented at the 2026 World Cup. [Al Jazeera]“It’s a natural evolution. I think we want to make football global all over the world. And if you look at the evolution (from) 1930, in 2030, the next World Cup will be 100 years since the …
