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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marks a historic turning point for world football. With 48 teams taking part and 104 matches scheduled, this tournament – the first ever to be held in North America and Central Mexico – is redefining the rules of the game. One of the major issues at stake is the expansion of the format, which paves the way for unprecedented records. However, a record mentioned in the media, linked to a confederation (CSC), appears to have already been broken even before the tournament has officially kicked off.
Since 1930, the World Cup has never seen such an expansion. The increase from 32 to 48 teams, approved by FIFA in 2017, aims to distribute the slots more evenly amongst the host nations and boost international viewership. This change could enable certain confederations, such as the AFC (Asia), the AFF (South-East Asia) or the CAF (Africa), to increase the number of their representatives. However, based on preliminary calculations, certain statistics – such as the maximum number of teams qualified by a single confederation – appear to have been reached or exceeded in previous tournaments. For example, Europe, with its 13 or 14 potential teams, could already break historical records due to the density of clubs and leagues across the continent.
The increase from 32 to 48 teams, approved by FIFA in 2017, aims to distribute the slots more evenly amongst the host nations and boost international viewership.
The organisers have made no secret of their ambitions. The United States, in particular, has highlighted the appeal of American football, with its modern stadiums and young population. This edition could also push the traditional boundaries in terms of broadcast coverage, with matches shown in prime time and fixtures held in iconic cities such as New York, Los Angeles or Toronto. However, the CSC record, if it does indeed relate to a statistic concerning the number of teams or matches, may well be a myth. Data collected prior to 2026 shows that certain countries or confederations have already reached similar thresholds, making this record less impressive than it appears.
The debate surrounding quotas and fairness remains central, however. Critics question the place of smaller nations, such as Hungary or Norway, in a tournament where giants like Germany or Argentina could dominate the knockout stages. The new geography of the World Cup, featuring teams such as Iceland and South Korea, introduces new uncertainties. In short, the 2026 tournament could become one where records are no longer records, but challenges to be overcome in a constantly evolving game of football.