I started the Qatar thread eleven (!) years ago and so lets start the next one.
What do we know?
The tournament will kickoff in June 2026 and will be expanding from 32 to 48 nations.
The allocation for spots will look like this:
There will be 16 host cities with all of the stadiums already existing. The stadium in Toronto will be expanding from 30,000 to 45,000 capacity for the event.
Canada will host in Vancouver and Toronto.
Mexico will host in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey
United States will host in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Miami.
What do we not know?
The format. The original plan was to have 16 groups of three. This obviously raises a ton of issues. Multiple reports suggest FIFA is open to changing to 12 groups of 4. The round of 32 still seems to be in play which will result in eight third place teams advancing. If this format ends up being approved, the tournament will expand from 80 to 102 matches.
What do we know?
The tournament will kickoff in June 2026 and will be expanding from 32 to 48 nations.
The allocation for spots will look like this:
- Europe gets 16 (up from 13)
- Asia gets 8 (up from 4.5)
- Africa gets 9 (up from 5)
- North/Central America gets 6 including the three hosts (up from 3.5)
- South America gets 6 (up from 4.5)
- Oceania gets 1 (up from 0.5)
There will be 16 host cities with all of the stadiums already existing. The stadium in Toronto will be expanding from 30,000 to 45,000 capacity for the event.
Canada will host in Vancouver and Toronto.
Mexico will host in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey
United States will host in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Miami.
What do we not know?
The format. The original plan was to have 16 groups of three. This obviously raises a ton of issues. Multiple reports suggest FIFA is open to changing to 12 groups of 4. The round of 32 still seems to be in play which will result in eight third place teams advancing. If this format ends up being approved, the tournament will expand from 80 to 102 matches.