FIFA World Cup 2026 by the numbers when compared to previous FIFA World Cups

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the biggest instalment of the FIFA World Cup franchise. From 13 teams in its first instalment in 1930 in Uruguay, the number has been expanded to 48 in the 2026 edition, the biggest number of participants ever in its history, making it an ever more global event.

The first FIFA World Cup in 1930 started with 13 participating teams. The tournament is hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States as the first-ever 48-member tournament. The landmark tournaments where the field expanded include the following:

13 Teams (1930 Uruguay): The inaugural tournament did not have a qualification stage; all teams participated by invitation.

16 Teams (1954 Switzerland): This tournament marked the first expansion and standardisation of a 16-team format that remained mostly consistent for nearly three decades.

24 Teams (1982 Spain): Expanded to allow greater global representation, particularly for teams from the African (CAF) and Asian (AFC) confederations.

32 Teams (1998 France): Increased to 32 nations, establishing the beloved format of eight groups of four that was utilised for 24 years through the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

48 Teams (2026 North America): The current format adopted by FIFA to expand global participation and generate increased revenue.

Detailed Format Breakdown of number of matches with the 13, 16, 24, 32 and 48 teams respectively

13 Teams (1930 – 1950): Played as a straight knockout phase or small group stages, totalling exactly 18 matches.

16 Teams (1954–1978): Played in 4 groups of 4 teams each, followed by knockout stages, typically resulting in 32 matches.

24 Teams (1982–1994): Played in 6 groups of 4. In this format, teams advanced to a second group stage or direct knockouts, amounting to 52 matches.

32 Teams (1998–2022): Played in 8 groups of 4, followed by 16 knockout matches (Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Third-place playoff, and Final), totalling 64 matches.

48 Teams (2026): Played in 12 groups of 4, advancing 32 teams to the knockout rounds. This tournament structure features a total of 104 matches

Here is a breakdown of the number of teams participating in the 2026 tournament per the 6 confederations that make up the global football governing body and their FIFA rankings prior to the global soccer fiesta.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC): 9 teams

Australia (27)