Why FIFA Is Expanding The FIFA World Cup In 2026
The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, bringing together nations, cultures, and millions of fans every four years. The 2022 final in Qatar between Argentina and France was watched by an estimated five billion people, and those who tuned in were treated to perhaps the greatest game ever played.
The Albiceleste raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, only for two goals inside 90 seconds deep into the second half from Kylian Mbappe to take the contest to extra time. There, both Messi and Mbappe netted again, taking the contest to a penalty shootout, which the Argentinians would eventually win thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
In four years, however, the reigning champions will head to North America to defend their crown in a much different tournament.
Football Continues to Grow
It isn’t just the World Cup that has grown in popularity in recent years. The English Premier League has become a universal spectacle, captivating fans from London to Lagos. With star players from virtually every corner of the world, the league attracts viewers from over 200 countries, generating billions in broadcast rights and sponsorships. This year, Liverpool are the surprising league leaders, with the latest Premiership betting odds now making them an odds-on 8/11 to claim the title for the second time in five years.
The international nature of the league has buoyed FIFA to attempt to cash in themselves. From Mohamed Salah of Egypt to Son Heung-min of South Korea, the league’s openness to talent from all over the globe has increased football’s appeal in markets that were once peripheral to the sport. The latest football betting tips have been predicting those two to shine in recent weeks, and Salah in particular has obliged as he looks to live up to his favourite tag in the top scorer market.
But while those two have shone in the Premier League, it’s the World Cup in which they will be aiming to capitalise on the expanded competition. So will FIFA, and here’s why.
Lionel Messi draped in #FIFAWorldCup immortality 💫🏆 pic.twitter.com/WBx4jUIUQ7
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 19, 2022
All About the Money
Let’s make no mistake about it, FIFA’s primary reason for expanding their premier tournament is securing even more money. The bulk of that comes from having more fixtures. Increasing the number of teams competing in the World Cup from 36 to 48 means that the number of games played will almost double, up from 64 to a whopping 104.
That will result in nearly double the income from just matchday proceeds alone. Add to that the monstrous amounts that broadcasters now will fork out to secure the rights to showcase the tournament, and FIFA look set for a windfall even bigger than the $7.5 billion they received two years ago.
Broader Global Representation
Another of FIFA’s primary arguments for expanding the World Cup is to increase global participation. Currently, many talented teams fail to qualify due to limited slots available for each region. Take a look at Italy for example, who hasn’t featured at the tournament since 2014 despite being one of the most successful teams in history with four triumphs to their name.
For smaller or historically underrepresented footballing nations, this decision signals hope. Continents like Africa, Asia, and North America stand to gain additional qualification spots, ensuring more inclusivity. But will that come at the expense of quality? Only time will tell.
