UEFA wants 16 European countries for the 2026 World Cup
UEFA wants Europe to be allowed to send 16 countries to the 2026 World Cup instead of the current 14. The world football association FIFA recently decided that no fewer than 48 countries may participate in the tournament. This means that 16 countries can qualify extra and UEFA wants 2 extra places.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin submitted a request to FIFA today, asking for the 2 extra places for football countries from Europe. In addition, UEFA is submitting a request to divide all 16 European countries over the 16 groups, so that the countries can only meet in the knockout rounds. This request from the chairman has the support of all members of the European Football Association.
Ceferin is convinced that the qualities of the European football countries speak in favor of UEFA. According to him, there is a good chance that all 16 countries will reach the knockout rounds.
FIFA will decide in May 2017 during the meeting in Bahrain on the allocation of the number of participants per continent.
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazilë Europe still had 13 countries and during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, UEFA was represented by 14 countries. Russia is automatically qualified as the host country.
No less than 48 countries will participate in the 2026 World Cup instead of the current 32 countries. As a result, the number of matches at the Football World Cup will increase from 64 to 80. FIFA decided this on Tuesday 10 January 2017 in a meeting in Zurich.
Due to the increase in the number of participating countries, the group round will also change. From the 2026 World Cup there will be 16 groups of 3 countries each. The numbers 1 and 2 of each group move on to the knockout rounds. Because more participants are admitted to the main tournament, each continent can also send more countries. This new set-up can also provide more exciting matches.
32 countries participated in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It is still unknown who will be the host country for the 2026 World Cup.
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UEFA wants Europe to be allowed to send 16 countries to the 2026 World Cup. No less than 48 countries will participate in that World Cup.
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