FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced significant changes for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These updates reflect FIFA’s ambition to expand the tournament’s reach and improve the competition’s structure. Infantino, who has served as FIFA’s president since 2016, emphasized the importance of making the game more inclusive and accessible to fans around the globe while ensuring fairness and maintaining the sport’s high standards.
One of the most notable changes for the 2026 tournament is the expansion of participating teams. For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 nations, up from the previous 32. This expanded format aims to give more countries the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage, promoting global representation and increasing fan engagement from regions that previously had fewer chances to participate. The new format will involve 12 groups of four teams, with the top two from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stages. This structure ensures more matches and provides fans with more exciting football.
Infantino also addressed the growing demand for better technology and officiating in football. Building on the success of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in recent tournaments, FIFA plans to enhance its implementation for 2026. The system will be fine-tuned to offer more precise decisions in real time, aiming to minimize controversy and improve fairness. Additionally, more stringent measures regarding player conduct and time-wasting will be enforced to keep the game flowing and maintain its integrity.
Another major change pertains to the tournament’s scheduling. FIFA has been working closely with host countries to ensure that the 2026 World Cup runs smoothly and efficiently. Infantino emphasized the importance of player welfare, with longer rest periods between matches to reduce fatigue and maintain the high level of performance expected at the World Cup. This is part of a broader initiative to prioritize player health and ensure that the World Cup remains a showcase for the best talent in the world.
As excitement builds for the 2026 World Cup, these new rules mark a transformative moment in the history of the tournament. Gianni Infantino’s leadership continues to drive FIFA’s vision of making football a truly global sport, ensuring that the World Cup not only grows in scale but also improves in quality and fairness for players, teams, and fans alike.
