World Cup organisers consider ditching three-team group format for 2026

• Alternative plan for 12 groups of four would result in 104 games
• US, Mexico and Canada World Cup will be first 48-team event

World Cup organisers are increasingly open to discarding the new three-team group format for the 2026 tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada. It comes after concerns that too many dead rubbers in the last round of matches could dilute the expanded, 48-team event.

Although Fifa's official position remains unaltered, multiple sources say there have been informal talks" and corridor chats" in Doha about the benefits of going with 12 groups of four teams rather than 16 groups of three.