https://sputnikglobe.com/20170110/fifa-council-world-cup-expansion-1049427505.html

FIFA Council Approves World Cup Expansion to 48 Teams Starting in 2026

Sputnik International

The Council of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) approved on Tuesday a plan to expand the number of World Cup final tournament... 10.01.2017, Sputnik International

2017-01-10T09:48+0000

2022-10-19T20:43+0000

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103059/78/1030597893_0:118:3500:2098_1920x0_80_0_0_8a67ae7e76457c7d36c9d91d6be35188.jpg

zurich

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

2017

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

News

en_EN

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

1920

1080

true

1920

1440

true

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103059/78/1030597893_0:8:3500:2208_1920x0_80_0_0_26ecde30a78ad173971c8f0975a82356.jpg

1920

true

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“

252

Sputnik International

newsfeed, sport, zurich, gianni infantino, fifa’s world cup, fifa

FIFA Council Approves World Cup Expansion to 48 Teams Starting in 2026

09:48 GMT 10.01.2017 (Updated: 20:43 GMT 19.10.2022)

The Council of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) approved on Tuesday a plan to expand the number of World Cup final tournament participants to 48 teams from the current 32.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The decision issued by the 37-member FIFA Council in Zurich envisions a 2026 championship made up of 16 three-team groups, FIFA said on its Twitter account. It promised further details after the council meeting.

The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a 48-team #WorldCup as of 2026:
16 groups of 3 teams. Details to follow after the meeting.
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) January 10, 2017

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the expansion proposal on October 3, 2016, explaining at the time that 16 teams would qualify directly to the group stage and 32 teams would compete for the remaining 16 spots.