FIFA Expands 2026 Men’s World Cup In U.S.: More Games, Tickets, Revenue
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 05:20PM By Barry Janoff
March 14, 2023: In anticipation of the 2026 Men’s World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, FIFA said today that the already expanded roster of 48 nations would now play an extra 40 games, with more nations qualifying for the “knockout round.”
The move also increases FIFA’s potential to sell more sponsorships and tickets.
The 2026 World Cup expand to 104 games over about 40 days, with the total 40 more games than in Qatar in 2022, the final staging in the 32-nation format.
FIFA said the expansion would go from 16 groups of three to 12 groups of four, with the top two in each group and eight best third-placed teams moving to the Round of 32.
Based on a new calendar, the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins June 11, 2026,, with the final is now scheduled to be played on Sunday, July 19, 2026, from the original date of July 12.
According to FIFA, “Based on a thorough review that considered sporting integrity, player welfare, team travel, commercial and sporting attractiveness, as well as team and fan experience, the FIFA Council unanimously approved the proposed amendment to the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition format from 16 groups of three to 12 groups of four with the top two and eight best third-placed teams progressing to a round of 32.
“The revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams.”
The bottom line to this decision was the bottom line.
According to AP Sports, “Adding about 1.5 million more tickets will also further fuel FIFA’s expected record revenue of at least $11 billion through 2026 from a tournament that will rely on using high-revenue NFL stadiums.
“The extra games should drive up the price of sponsor deals and broadcasting deals not yet signed.”
The 2026 World Cup was already set to earn up to $3 billion in ticket and hospitality sales for FIFA, according to AP Sports.
The FIFA Council also unanimously approved the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Bidding Regulations, “which will see the most comprehensive bidding process in the history of the competition before the host(s) are due to be appointed by the FIFA Congress next year.”
The 2023 Women’s World Cup, which this year expands to 32 nations, is scheduled for July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Cities scheduled to host the 2026 Men’s World Cup games include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Fransisco and Seattle in the U.S.
The World Cup Final host city has not yet been named. (See the full list of stadiums here.)
Fox Sports and Telemundo are the English and Spanish rights holders, respectively, for the Tournament when it is broadcast in the U.S.
FIFA also said a mandatory release date for when clubs must allow players to travel to their national sides has been also been set as Monday May 25 (exceptions may apply for clubs participating in confederation club competitions), “meaning the 56 rest, release and tournament days are identical to those of the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups.”
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