The 2026 World Cup will span 39 days
Expanding the tournament to 48 teams creates a marathon schedule that is ten days longer than the previous championship in Qatar.
The 2026 World Cup is set to become the longest and most expansive tournament in the history of the sport. By increasing the number of participating nations from 32 to 48, the event will stretch across 39 days, a significant jump from the 29 day schedule used in 2022. This expansion introduces a grueling 104 match calendar that requires a new group stage format consisting of 12 groups of four teams each.
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