The Globe Cup group stage format for 2026 was changed to 12 groups of 4 teams from 16 groups of 3 teams by FIFA’s Council on Tuesday, growing the total to 104 matches from 64 in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
New format
To win a Globe Cup, a nation will have to play eight games, up from the seven in location because 1974.
The best two teams in every single group and the best eight third-location teams will advance to a new round of 32 that begins the knockout phase. Advancement for third-location teams was eliminated for 1998, when the tournament expanded from 24 teams to 32.
A lot more games
The adjust implies there will be 104 matches, double the 52 at the 1994 Globe Cup in the U.S., up from the 64 at every single tournament from 1998 by means of 2022 and an improve from the 80 beneath the original 2026 format. That implies additional content material for tv broadcasters and additional tickets to sell, increasing income for FIFA.
Why adjust?
The original format for the 2026 tournament in the U.S., Mexico and Canada was adopted by the Council in January 2017 when the Globe Cup was expanded from 32 nations to 48 beginning in 2026. That format would have meant two teams playing on the final day of the group with 1 group off, which could lead to corruption.
The present schedule of obtaining all teams in a group kick off simultaneously on the final day was adopted soon after the Disgrace of Gijón at the 1982 Globe Cup in Spain when West Germany and Austria knew that a 1- or two-aim win by the Germans would advance each nations at the expense of Algeria, which played a day earlier. Horst Hrubesch scored in the 10th minute and neither group threatened soon after that as West Germany won 1-.
Length
FIFA announced the final will be on July 19. The internet site has not however been announced, with East Rutherford, New Jersey Arlington, Texas and Inglewood, California, the 3 major contenders.
No length has been specified for the tournament, which is probably to be involving 38 and 42 days. That is up from 29 for final year’s tournament in Qatar and 32 for the 2018 Globe Cup in Russia. The 1994 tournament was held from June 17 to July 17.
Influence on players and clubs
FIFA announced the mandatory release date for players to be produced offered to national teams by their clubs will be Could 25, a day soon after leagues will have to play their final pre-Globe Cup matches. Nonetheless, continental finals such as the Champions League could take location by means of Could 30, topic to FIFA approval.
The release date is followed by a rest period — which implies coaching permitted but national group friendlies prohibited. FIFA stated the 56 days of rest, release and tournament stay identical to the 2010, 2014 and 2018 FIFA Globe Cups.
