Why Are There 104 Matches at World Cup 2026?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 104 matches because the expansion to 48 teams creates 12 groups of four teams, generating 72 group-stage matches. A new Round of 32 knockout phase adds 16 additional matches, while the traditional later rounds (Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Third-place playoff, and Final) account for the remaining 16 fixtures, nearly doubling the previous 64-match tournament format.