FIFA in informal talks on maintaining 4-team groups for 2026

2 December - FIFA is reportedly considering scrapping three-team groups at the 2026 World Cup tournament - the first with 48 teams - and sticking with the status quo of four-team groups.

FIFA previously agreed to introduce 16 groups of three in the next competition, which will be held jointly in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but could now apparently turn around to avoid dead rubbers and the dilution of the competition.< /p>

The benefits of the four-team format were underscored in Qatar after several group stage games on Wednesday and Thursday went to the wire.

While FIFA's official stance remains unchanged, several outlets claim there were 'informal discussions' in Doha about the benefits of opting for 12 groups of four teams rather than 16 groups of three.< /p>

It could lead to a 104-game World Cup if the top two from each group, along with the top eight third-placed teams, qualify for a 32-team knockout stage, which would mean 40 more games than what will be played. in Qatar 2022.

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