It is nearly that time again when the world of football comes together for the biggest competition of all, the FIFA World Cup. The competition is the largest sports event in the world, attracting monumental interest from all areas of the globe, whether supporting their home countries or enjoying the overall spectacle it provides. As we know, the upcoming FIFA World Cup is returning for its 23rd edition, this time taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the qualifying stages underway and the new format changes looming, the true excitement of the FIFA World Cup is near, and this article aims to break down the competition for all. The global influence of the World Cup has even extended into the igaming industry, with many live casino games incorporating World Cup-inspired themes.
The History of the FIFA World Cup
The World Cup was first introduced to football in 1930, as the sport began to evolve with governing bodies taking a larger role. After FIFA set out their plans in 1928, the first tournament began in 1930, and was hosted by Uruguay, though the competition would be far from what we see today. The inaugural FIFA World Cup had just 13 nations competing, all of which were invited to participate, and no qualification process was required. In the first edition of the FIFA World Cup, host nation Uruguay won the competition, beating Argentina 4-2 in the final to crown them the first world champions.
Following the inaugural competition, the FIFA World Cup has been held every four years, excluding the 12-year hiatus for the Second World War. In the competition’s twenty-two tournaments, eighteen countries have had the privilege of being the host, with only four countries being returning hosts, a trend that is set to change. Hosting the FIFA World Cup has a profound impact on a country; not only does it receive automatic entry, but it also feels the support of a nation behind it, often leading to heightened performances. In addition to the sports side, the FIFA World Cup brings incredible facilities and streams of revenue to the host country.
In the history of the FIFA World Cup, eight countries have won the tournament: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Uruguay, England, and Spain. Brazil hold the record for the most triumphs, with an impressive total of 5, though recently they have failed to deliver, with their last tournament victory being in 2002. Each edition of the tournament becomes a global festival of football, uniting nations and fans in celebration of the sport’s highest honour.
The Format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing more than just its first three-country host; it also introduces a new format and structure. In previous years, the tournament featured 32 teams, with 8 groups determining the teams that advanced to the knockout stages; however, this year it has expanded to 48 teams, comprising 12 groups. The increase in teams competing in the FIFA World Cup has led to the Introduction of the Round of 32, completely shifting the format. The introduction of the additional knockout round makes the competition slightly trickier, as teams must now win an extra ‘win or go home’ fixture to claim gold. The Round of 32 will consist of the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, with the remaining 8 positions filled by the third-place teams from those groups. As a result of the structure changes, the number of matches will increase from 64 previously to 104 in the 2026 World Cup, bringing more entertainment for the fans.
How Will the FIFA World Cup 2026 Be Split Between the Hosts?
With the introduction of the first three-country host, the question on everyone’s mind is how the games will be divided between the countries. Although it is regarded as a joint tournament, the USA are the primary host nation, which will host 78 fixtures in the tournament as a result. Additionally, the USA has improved and advanced stadiums and infrastructure, which are much larger and more modern than those seen in Mexico and Canada. The remainder of the games will be equally shared between Mexico and Canada, with each hosting 13 matches. In Mexico, these games will take place across 3 cities, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, and games in Canada will take place in Toronto and Vancouver. The World Cup final will be staged at MetLife Stadium, located in New Jersey, America, which can host a capacity of 82,000.
Final Thoughts
With the qualification process well underway, and at the time of writing, 28 countries have qualified, the excitement and collaboration of the FIFA World Cup are near. The 23rd edition of the competition will bring the same old football cheer in all other tournaments, though this time, large structure changes debut, evoking anticipation for all. In the context of new beginnings, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature three host nations for the first time, with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco set to host the 2030 tournament. All in all, regardless of the structure or the host nation, the World Cup unites football, bringing excitement and culture for global fans.