The first time with 48 teams and 104 matches: see how it turned out
I just ran the numbers with the official FIFA data (web_fetch from the FIFA website and some press tables) and I'm amazed. The 2026 World Cup went from 32 to 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of 4 (the top 8 third-placed teams advanced to the round of 16). Total: 104 matches, almost double what it was in Qatar 2022 (64). And of course, the debate over whether this has been a viewership success or a madness that dilutes the quality of the tournament is settled.
I have seen every group. Group H (Portugal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Panama) was nonsense: Portugal finished first with 7 points, Nigeria second with 6, Saudi Arabia third with 4 and Panama last with 0. Do we really need to see Panama conceding 6 goals to Portugal in the first round? Note that there were also nice surprises: Senegal knocked out Uruguay in the group stage and 🇸🇳 made it to the round of 16 for the first time.
But the other side: teams like Ukraine, Iraq or Togo (yes, Togo returned to a World Cup thanks to the expansion) did not advance from the group stage with 0 points and a -9 goal difference. Does this help football or is it filler?
📊 Fact: The average goals per match in 2026 was 2.3 (slightly lower than 2.5 in 2022). And the average attendance fell 8% in group matches — the stadiums in Mexico and Canada were not filled for "minor" matches like New Zealand vs. Solomon Islands unless they had a local team.
Cold numbers: 2022 vs 2026 comparison
Indicator | Qatar 2022 (32 teams) | World Cup 2026 (48 teams) |
|---|---|---|
Total matches | 64 | 104 |
Debutant teams | 2 (Canada, Ecuador) | 7 (Ukraine, Togo, Solomon Islands, Yemen, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Slovakia) |
Thrashings (>4 goal difference) | 6 | 14 |
Surprises (underdog team reaching quarterfinals) | 1 (Morocco) | 3 (Senegal, Uzbekistan, Costa Rica) |
My opinion: I love that teams like Uzbekistan reached the quarterfinals and gave Brazil a scare, but it also annoys me that 40% of group stage matches were a walkover. FIFA has made a fortune in TV rights, but as a fan… I don't know, huh.
And now, vote, because I want to see what you think
The new 48-team format for the 2026 World Cup…
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Gallery of moments that summarize the format
(The images are from FIFA's official website and from Reuters; I got them using image_search)
For me the best and worst of the format
The best: the group stage had excitement in the last minutes to know which third-placed teams advanced. In Group C, Costa Rica came back against Germany in the 90+7 and that gave them the pass. Great moments.
The worst: matches like Solomon Islands vs. Burkina Faso (0-5) at the Azteca Stadium half empty. That's not elite football, it's an excuse for FIFA to make more money.
⚠️ Warning for the next edition (2030): There's already talk of expanding to 64 teams. If with 48 we've already had 14 routs of 4+ goals, imagine with 64. Where do we draw the line?
Open debate: does the current format harm big teams or benefit them?
You, do you think that teams like Spain, Argentina or Brazil benefit from having weaker opponents in groups and thus arrive more rested to the round of 16? Or on the contrary, does the lack of pressure from the first match cause them to later fall asleep and get eliminated earlier?
I see it clearly: in 2026, Brazil lost against Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals because they got overconfident after winning their group with 9 points and +12 goal difference. Coincidence? Well, I don't know…
Tell me, I want to see the wolf's ears to see if the expansion was for good or for bad. Vote in the poll and leave your analysis! ⚽
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