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Asharq Al-Awsat

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Asharq Al-Awsat

The Next World Cup Will Jump to 48 Teams. Is Bigger Better?

World Cup Fifa Lionel Messi Spain Football Aliou Cisse Arsene Wenger Qatar Japan Morocco

Morocco players celebrate after they won on penalty shoot-out the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (AFP)

The next World Cup will be the biggest ever after world football body FIFA took the leap from a 32-team field to 48 teams in 2026.

It means more of football’s so-called “little teams” that didn't make it to Qatar will be given a chance of a lifetime when the tournament is hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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