2026 World Cup Swaps Traditional Format for 16 Groups of Three

The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 nations competing across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament replaces its traditional eight groups of four teams with 16 groups of three. The top two finishers from each group advance, along with eight third-place teams, feeding a 32-team knockout round. This is the first format overhaul since 1998's expansion from 24 to 32 teams.