Gianni Infantino: FIFA will 're-discuss' 2026 World Cup group stage structure, introduce new 32-team men's Club World Cup

Gianni Infantino said that FIFA would introduce a new 32-team men's Club World Cup in 2025 and 'rediscuss' the World Cup group stage structure in 2026. The new Club World Cup model was supposed to debut in China in 2021 with 24 clubs but was cancelled due to the pandemic - now it is slated to expand further beginning in June 2025. However, the current World Cup system, which has seen 32 teams divided into eight four-team groupings since 1998, is due to alter for the expanded 48-team event in four years, with the FIFA Council deciding in 2017 to divide the nations into 16 three-team groups.

Meanwhile, following the dramatic conclusion of the group stages in Qatar, FIFA President, Infantino, addressing at a news conference for the first time since his contentious statement on the eve of the competition, hinted that the group stage format might alter in the future.

What did Gianni Infantino say?

Infantino stated that they had authorized a 48-team World Cup structure with 16 three-team groups, with the top two moving on to a 32-team knockout round, preceded by 16, eight, four, and ultimately two.




He stated that following this World Cup and the effectiveness of the four-team groups, as well as looking at other events such as the Euros, where there are 24 teams and the top two, along with the best third ones, advance to the next level.

He remarked that the groups of four have been great in that until the final minute of the last game, you wouldn't know the teams that go through. They will need to re-examine or, at the very least, rediscuss the format, whether it is 16 groupings of three or 12 four-team groups. He continued by noting that it will probably be on the agenda for the upcoming sessions.

FAQs:

1. Who exactly is Gianni Infantino?
   Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, born March 23, 1970, is FIFA's current president and a Swiss-Italian football executive.
2. When did Gianni Infantino become President of FIFA?
   In February 2016, he was voted into office as FIFA President during the FIFA Extraordinary Congress.