JAKARTA - Qatar's 2022 World Cup has just passed. Now world football lovers and FIFA are preparing to welcome the next edition that will mark a new history.
The four-year championships will next take place in 2026 in three different countries, namely the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A total of 16 cities were also appointed as match venues.
The number of old home countries and match venues is because the number of contestants in the most grand event on earth has also increased to 48 teams set since 2017. That number increased by 16 teams from the last edition in Qatar.
The addition of this team can automatically create a record 104 matches which last for 33 days. However, until now FIFA as the parent of international football has not made a finalization of the group format.
Reportedly FIFA will divide participants into 12 groups with four teams each. The two best automatically qualify for the next phase, followed by the eight best third-placed teams.
In addition, the participant options will be divided into 16 groups, of which the two best qualify for the last 32, are being considered by FIFA. However, this format is said to be less likely to be used because it has a big weakness.
Then there is also the choice of eight best group winners to automatically qualify for the round of 16, followed by four other group winners and eight runner-up teams.
If the last option is used then the number of matches is only 96 not 104. However, it is still the biggest World Cup so far because previously only 64 matches in Qatar.
Another option is to divide the contestants into two divisions with 24 teams each. Each division consists of six groups inhabited by four teams so that the winners in each division will compete in the final.
However, another factor that would be very different is the number of matches every day in the group stage. The Qatar World Cup was shortened to 29 days, with four games every day in the group phase.
However, major European clubs will definitely put great pressure on FIFA to prevent tournaments from lasting longer than a maximum of 33 days.
So, the solution is clear, there can be six games every day in the group stage. It's just that this is more likely to be implemented in 2026 than in other potential places in the following edition.
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