FIFA President Gianni Infantino hinted that banned countries might return for the 2026 World Cup.
He stated that Russia may rejoin international football competitions, including the World Cup, if global peace returns.
A total of 48 nations are set to compete in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, making it the largest edition in the tournament’s history.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
For the first time in history, the World Cup will be co-hosted by three nations. Additionally, this event marks its return to North America since 1994.
For the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams, a significant expansion designed to increase global participation and provide more nations with the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
A bumper line-up of nations means there will be 104 matches for football fans to feats on – 40 more than in Qatar.
The knockout stage will begin with a round of 32.
The format has changed from 32 teams in eight groups to 12 groups of four teams.
The top two teams in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.
