Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi criticizes the 48-team format as his unbeaten team faces the Netherlands in a highly anticipated second-round match, 30 years after a historic World Cup encounter between the two nations.
The current World Cup is experiencing a high number of goals, averaging 2.98 per game after 54 matches. This is attributed to factors like the Adidas Trionda ball, stricter refereeing, and the expanded 48-team format, though the knockout stages are expected to see a defensive shift.
Qatar is set to host another World Cup, as FIFA had scheduled the world U-17 tournament for 19 November to 13 December. The 48-team format is also making a comeback, with 30 nations already qualified.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup faces an unprecedented tax issue as 30 of 48 participating nations lack double taxation agreements with the United States, potentially costing them significantly more to participate. Only 18 teams from countries with DTAs—including European nations, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa—will benefit from tax protections. Teams like Brazil, lacking DTA coverage, face federal taxes of up to 37% plus state taxes varying by venue, while smaller nations like Curaçao and Cape Verde could face larger tax liabilities than wealthy European federations despite lower earnings.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will introduce changes to yellow card rules to suit its expanded 48-team format. With more matches and an added knockout round, FIFA plans two reset points, after the group stage and quarter-finals, to limit suspensions from accumulated bookings. The change aims to reduce players missing key matches while maintaining disciplinary fairness across a longer tournament structure.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s expanded 48-team format has reopened the possibility of a historic Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo clash, something never seen in tournament play. With Argentina and Portugal drawn into separate groups, any meeting depends entirely on knockout progression. Depending on results, they could meet in the Round of 16, quarter-finals, or even the final.
