• The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time in history
• Twelve groups of four teams will compete in the opening stage
• Thirty-two nations will reach the knockout rounds under new rules
• The eight best third-place teams will join the top two from each group
• Bookmakers have released early odds for potential surprise teams

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will introduce a major change to its format. A total of 48 countries will take part in the competition. This is the first time the tournament has expanded beyond 32 teams.

The teams will form 12 groups labelled A to J. Each group contains four nations. The top two teams from every group will move to the knockout stage. In addition, the best eight third-place teams will also advance.

This new system means 32 teams will compete in the knockout rounds. Officials will use tiebreakers to separate third-place teams with the same number of points. These rules will decide which eight nations complete the last-32 lineup.

Betting companies have already published odds for the tournament. Many fans are looking at underdog teams who might benefit from the new format. The extra places available give smaller nations a better chance to reach the later stages.

The competition will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Football supporters in Kenya can follow the action as the expanded tournament offers more matches than ever before.