Thinking in four dimensions, appreciating the vastness of the universe, grasping quite what a 48-team World Cup will look like. The human mind has its limits.
The newly expanded edition in 2026 will host more group stage fixtures than there were total matches at any prior World Cup. In a Europa League-flavored twist, there will be a round of 32, ensuring that the four semifinalists have to play eight matches (rather than seven) for the first time. Even the number of hosts is unprecedented.
