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      How World Cup 2026 will work with 104 matches, six games a day and 48 teams in biggest tournament ever

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      SO that’s a wrap on the smallest World Cup in living memory — now we can all get ready for the biggest.Doha’s soaring skyscrapers, sparkling stadiums and gleaming Metro stations are now football’s past.
      Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World CupCredit: Getty
      Here’s a look at how the logistics of the 2026 World Cup will work
      For all the talk of new frontiers and “bringing people together”, the truth is that Fifa are absolutely delighted to be saying goodbye to Qatar, the controversy and criticism.
      Even before the suitcases were packed, thoughts were turning to the next incarnation of the event that does unite the world in passion.
      A World Cup in three countries, not one city. In 16 venues, split across four time zones and thousands of miles — rather than the distance between Selhurst Park and Kenilworth Road.
      With 48 teams, as opposed to the 32 that has been the norm since 1998. More from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Even, for the first time, a guaranteed slot for Oceania.
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      And, almost certainly, a record 104 MATCHES and 33 days as well.
      It will be 12 groups of four but the real issues are over the next stage.
      The easiest way would be the top two in each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, reaching the final 32 and eight games, instead of seven, required to win.
      There are some arguments, though, that the best eight group winners should automatically go to the last 16, with the other four group winners plus the eight runners-up, playing off to join them.
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      That would mean 96 games not 104 — still the biggest World Cup by far, with only 64 matches in Qatar — but also cause issues.
      Teams drawn in a “soft” opening group who won all three matches easily would be rewarded for the luck of the draw, while it would also change the concept that all sides must play the same number of games to win the biggest prize in football.
      Another option is to split the 24 competing teams into two halves, with the “winner” of the two sections meeting in the final.
      That would mean the top two joined by the four best third-place sides in their half — more sensible if the tournament is split into geographical “east” and “west” sections — even if they were not in the top eight third-place teams overall.
      But the other factor that will be very different is the number of games each day in the group phase.
      Qatar was condensed to 29 days, with four matches each day in the opening stage.
      But the big European clubs will put huge pressure on Fifa to prevent an expanding tournament lasting any longer than 33 days maximum.
      The solution is obvious — up to six games each day in the opening round although that is more possible in 2026 than in any other potential venue for the future.
      Christian Pulisic’s USA are joint hosts with Canada and MexicoCredit: Getty
      Alphonso Davies will have a shot at World Cup redemption in 2026Credit: Getty
      East Coast cities like New York and Boston are five hours behind the UK, while Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco are a further three hours behind.
      One scenario would see the first match of the day starting in, perhaps, Toronto at noon local time, which is 5pm in the UK.
      Matches could then start every 2½ hours in Atlanta, Houston, Mexico City and Vancouver, with the last match in San Francisco beginning at 9.30pm local time — 5.30am at home. But there is still a problem for Fifa.
      Broadcasters for the major European nations will demand earlier kick-offs and the first three games of the day — but you cannot have Spain, Germany, England, France, Portugal and Holland all in the same half of the draw.
      Likewise, South American fans would prefer later, West Coast games.
      Fifa attempted to justify the choice of Qatar by pointing to the limited distances teams had to travel and pushing green credentials, sustainability and carbon offsetting.
      In 2026, driving between many of the cities is not feasible. Everyone will have to criss-cross Canada, Mexico and the States by plane.
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      You try to get a train from New York to Boston, let alone Seattle.
      But that is for Gianni Infantino and Co to sort out. It won’t be easy. More

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      Morocco star Hakimi pleads with Fifa boss Infantino and complains about referee after third-place loss to Croatia

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      MOROCCAN star Achraf Hakimi allegedly confronted Fifa president Gianni Infantino to complain about refereeing yesterday.Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic sealed a 2-1 win for Croatia against the Atlas Lions to claim third place at the World Cup.
      Achraf Hakimi allegedly confronted Fifa’s president after Morocco’s defeat to CroatiaCredit: Getty
      He was fuming about the refereeing in the third-place play-off clashCredit: LeSiteinfo YouTube
      But defender Hakimi, 24, was furious with the match officials and Infantino after the defeat.
      Morocco firstly had a penalty ruled out for handball after Youssef En-Nesyri’s header hit Bruno Petkovic as replays showed the ball hit the Croatian’s back.
      Hakimi was then brought down by Petkovic, but referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim waved play on.
      Now footage has emerged of the 24-year-old, who plays his club football for Paris Saint-Germain confronting the officials following the full-time whistle.
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      But beIN SPORTS reporter Carrie Brown has stated that Hakimi also sounded off about the refereeing to Fifa president Infantino as he prepared to hand out bronze medals to the Croatia players.
      Instead of ranting and raving, Hakimi is said to have spoken in a “polite and desperate” way to Infantino.
      Brown then added that the player’s teammates “walked him away” after he “pleaded” with the footy chief.
      SVT Sport reporter Johan Kucukaslan has claimed that Fifa wanted to “delete the images” of the “embarrassing scenes” from Hakimi and Infantino’s exchange.
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      He told SVT Sport: “They wanted us to delete the images.
      “It is clear that these are embarrassing scenes for them, and it is a bit naive of them to think that a dozen journalists should not report on this when we witness it happening.”
      TV presenter Tom Egbers added: “He stood in front of Infantino, less than five centimetres.
      “With a raised voice, he ranted to Infantino about the referee. It was painful.”
      However, while speaking to reporters, Hakimi insisted that “nothing happened” in his confrontation.
      Although he did admit that he was “angry” after the World Cup match. More

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      World Cup fans mock Gianni Infantino as Fifa chief spotted wearing CUSTOM Adidas trainers with his suit

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      FANS have been taking great joy from mocking Fifa president Gianni Infantino for his footwear during the World Cup third-place playoff.The 52-year-old was spotted wearing CUSTOM Adidas trainers as he congratulated the Croatian side on their win.
      Fifa President Gianni Infantino has been mocked by fans for his trainersCredit: Getty
      The white Adidas trainers with ‘FIFA’ printed on the side caused a stir on social mediaCredit: Reuters
      The Europeans beat African side Morocco 2-1 in the match to claim third place in the World Cup.
      Josko Gvardiol opened the scoring before Achraf Dari equalised for Morocco. But Mislav Orsic netted the winner in the 42nd minute to give his side the victory.
      But Infantino took the attention of the fans with his trainers, which had “FIFA” printed on the side of them.
      And fans could not help but poke fun at him on social media as one said: “Infantino’s shoes are so tragic”.
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      A second wrote: “Fifa, you need to get rid of Infantino purely for wearing white trainers with a suit”.
      A third commented: “Gianni Infantino always looks like a lad in a suit whose ‘good shoes’ are killing him so he wears his runners for watching the footie and getting his steps in”.
      A fourth added: “Infantino: suit, tie and white trainers. Like wearing shoes in the swimming pool”.
      A fifth tweeted: “White trainers with a massive logo on the tongue. Mmmm.”
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      Infantino has also received criticism for his plans for more winter World Cup tournaments.
      Premier League chiefs have suggested that the idea could ruin two seasons of domestic football due to the required six-week mid-campaign break. More

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      Cardiff City hit with transfer embargo for failing to pay £15m fee for tragic Emiliano Sala who died in plane crash

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      CARDIFF CITY have been hit with a transfer embargo after failing to pay the first part of the £15million transfer fee for Emiliano Sala.The Argentine striker died in a tragic plane crash in January 2019 as he flew to Britain after completing his record move.
      The consequences of Emiliano Sala’s tragic transfer to Cardiff continueCredit: AFP
      However, the fall-out resulted in the Bluebirds refusing to pay the first instalment to Sala’s previous club Nantes.
      Cardiff lost an appeal and were ordered by Fifa to make the initial payment of £5.3m but the club continue to dispute the ruling.
      Now, though, they have confirmed they are currently under an embargo and therefore unable to make any new signings.
      Chairman Mehmet Dalman, though, is “confident” the punishment will be lifted before the January transfer window opens.
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      He told BBC Radio Wales Sport: “I wish I had the power to lift the shadow of this situation from the club.
      “People at this club want this resolved.
      “People should not forget that a 28-year old man was killed when he there was no need for that accident to happen.
      “There is a human side to this story, it is not just a financial one.”
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      Cardiff are currently in talks with the EFL and Fifa to find a solution while they wait for a Swiss Federal Court verdict to their Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal which is expected to be returned early in 2023.
      Dalman’s club signed 17 new players in the summer transfer window – and yet sat just a point above the Championship relegation zone going into this weekend’s fixtures.
      He added: “There are lots of legal discussions going on and they will continue to go on, but we have received our first invoice from Nantes.
      “We haven’t paid it and at this stage have no intention of paying it, until certain negotiations come to fruition.
      We haven’t paid and have no intention of payingMehmet Dalman
      “This puts the EFL in a position where they automatically put us under a transfer embargo, but until January that is pretty meaningless anyway.
      “Until January I am sure there will be other developments. We are working hard to ensure we can do business then.
      “Should fans be worried we won’t be able to buy anyone in January? Yes and no.
      “We certainly would like to add more players, the manager [Mark Hudson] is keen to do that and we’ve told him to plan accordingly because we believe this is temporary not permanent.
      “But of course it is unpredictable.
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      “I don’t know Mark dreadfully well, but he’s a professional, he understood our position.
      “He didn’t necessarily like it. But we have told him to get his targets in place.” More

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      Furious Premier League chiefs slam Fifa Club World Cup plan and say it could scupper TWO SEASONS

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      PREM chiefs fear Fifa’s Club World Cup plan could scupper TWO successive seasons.Fifa boss Gianni Infantino signalled he is open to another winter World Cup, potentially as soon as 2030, when Saudi Arabia are increasingly confident of landing the big prize.
      Gianni Infantino’s plans for the Club World Cup have been blasted as “unacceptable”Credit: Getty
      That would require another six-week mid-season break for domestic football, either in the November-December period utilised in Qatar or at the start of the year.
      But the launch of the 32-team Club World Cup, which will feature potentially four or more Prem sides out of the 16 European competitors, has caused more concerns.

      It is expected that Fifa will hold the first version of the new tournament, in 2025, as a test event for the following year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
      That will become the norm and so a Saudi World Cup in 2030 would also mean a Saudi Club World Cup the previous year.
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      And if the Big Six were all involved in a tournament that would last at least three weeks, it would leave a huge hole in the Prem fixtures calendar.
      One Prem insider said: “The lack of consultation by Fifa was really unacceptable.
      “This plan wasn’t even on the original agenda for the Fifa Council meeting and it looked as if it was a reaction to the European Court ruling that spelled the end of Super League.
      “But if there was a winter Club World Cup as well, that would be an outrage.”
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      Jamie Carragher added his voice to the discontent regarding the announcement.
      The Liverpool legend fumed: “Like the ridiculous idea of the @FIFAWorldCup every two years, this is another one from Infantino.
      “Players need rest at some point, they are getting treated like cattle.
      “Fifa hate the Champions League and want something similar themselves. 
      “European clubs should boycott it.”
      It has been suggested that Super League chief plotters Real Madrid have been promised as much as £50m per year for four seasons for signing up to the Club World Cup.
      Other major European years have winter breaks of varying lengths, allowing space to reschedule games for clubs involved in the new event.
      But the Prem schedule is based on 34 weekend dates and that will be hard to fit in if the big revenue drivers are overseas for a lengthy part of the campaign. More

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      Africa has talent on and off football pitch to succeed but needs structure to compete with European wages

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      IN AFRICA itself, professional football doesn’t do so well, certainly not the club leagues.I’m afraid that, for all the solemn promises and grandiose schemes from Fifa, this will continue.
      The footballing structure in Africa needs improvement if it is to compete with EuropeCredit: Getty
      Morocco made history as the first African nation to make a World Cup semi-finalCredit: Getty
      It is truly history-making that Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals.
      It shouts to the powerhouse football countries that elite-level coaching in the lesser developed world is first-class.
      And the skills are by no means taught by expats, all five countries that made it to Qatar were head-coached by Africans.
      So, we know they have the talent both on and off the pitch to succeed on a world stage.
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      Where the difference lies is that the average footballer in Africa, from Morocco to Zimbabwe, earns £7,000 a month while the average Premier League wage is more than £250,000 a month.
      This is not a reflection of talent, but a direct reflection on the difference in the domestic leagues’ organisational structures as well as the broadcast rights and sponsorship revenue that each generate.
      The knock-on effect for the African domestic game is that outstanding footballers are quickly made to realise that fortunes are made in Europe, way beyond national boundaries, where top football is easier to come by and wages are much, much higher.
      Now the USA, Japan and the oil states are also tempting their players, emptying Africa of many riches. As ever.
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      Much of Africa is football barmy but actual progress on their own fields has been gradual, not least because of the lack of equipment, issues around fan safety and the mere fact trim grass is not readily available.
      That has never stopped boys or, increasingly, girls playing the game but unforgiving pitches, from sand to rock, take some overcoming.
      Fifa have plans to help.
      Publishing accounts isn’t their strong point but it is believed they have spent £2.5billion on worldwide assistance in the last six years.
      Divide that among about 200 countries and include too many fat, old committees and employees with a liking for posh offices, pleasant hotels and fleets of cars of their own.
      Fifa profit on the Qatar competition alone is about £7bn.
      In the long run, old-fashioned free-market economics will probably work better than dutiful charity because by all accounts the footballing countries of Africa teem with scouts watching out for talent.
      In time, I hope big TV fees and richer citizens may boost domestic clubs to the point where, say, 20 would form national Premier Leagues which pay players competitive salaries and retain their talent.
      Back in 1977, Pele predicted: “An African nation will win the World Cup before the year 2000.” That didn’t happen but they are edging closer.
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      The precedents for the standard of domestic African football are not good.
      And it isn’t going to be much helped by the plan to have at least nine teams from the continent playing at the expanded World Cup 2026 if the focus remains on individual talent playing outside of Africa, rather than national team development inside of Africa. More

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      FA chair Debbie Hewitt wants to become UK’s representative on Fifa after lack of English power in World Cup armband row

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      FA chair Debbie Hewitt wants to become the UK’s representative on Fifa – to ensure English football has a voice in the world’s corridors of power.Wembley boss Hewitt knows Fifa president Gianni Infantino from her role with sponsors Visa Europe.
      FA chair Debbie Hewitt wants to become the UK’s representative on FifaCredit: Splash
      But the lack of English power at Fifa was made clear by the armband row that dogged the build-up to the opening group game with Iran.
      And that has helped confirm the FA’s belief that it needs to regain the British vice-presidency role taken by Northern Ireland’s David Martin after Hewitt’s disgraced predecessor Greg Clarke was forced to quit in 2020.
      An FA spokesperson said: “International football is a strategic priority for the FA.
      “Debbie Hewitt is standing for the position of Uefa British Vice President in the Fifa Council with the full support of the FA Board.“
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      The British vice presidency has been in place since the four Home nations joined Fifa in 1946 and despite threats a decade ago it remains firmly established as part of the hierarchy.
      But England have only held the role for Clarke’s brief 18-month spell from 2019 since the retirement of Geoff Thompson in 2011.
      The decision will cause upset in Belfast with Martin only having served in the £210,000 per year role since April 2021.
      FA chiefs will lodge Hewitt’s candidate papers by the January 5 deadline and unless Martin steps down there will then be a vote of all 55 Uefa members at the Congress in Lisbon in April.
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      But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin will actively lobby on Hewitt’s behalf as he agrees European football needs a strong English voice at Fifa’s top table.
      Fifa, too, are understood to be likely to welcome Hewitt’s elevation to the role.
      Debbie Hewitt during a Uefa Nations League match between England and HungaryCredit: Getty More

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      Fifa block Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky from giving World Cup final message to fans

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      FIFA have blocked Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky from giving a World Cup Final message – as Gianni Infantino said the pitch must never be a place for protests.Zelensky wanted to “share a message of world peace” via video link to the fans inside the Lusail Stadium.
      Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been blocked by Fifa from giving a message of peace ahead of the World Cup finalCredit: Alamy
      Fifa president Gianni Infantino does not think the pitch is the place for the messageCredit: Getty
      But the approach was rebuffed with a source in the Ukrainian government complaining: “We thought Fifa wanted to use its platform for the greater good.”
      The decision came soon after Infantino publicly revealed his stance on the One Love armband row with England, Wales and six other European teams for the first time.
      Skippers including Harry Kane and Gareth Bale were wanted they would be booked if they defied Fifa to wear the rainbow-style anti-discrimination armbands.
      Infantino claimed: “I honestly believe we ARE defending values, human rights and the rights of everybody.
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      “Fifa is an organisation representing 211 countries around the world and there are many different concerns in different countries and cultures.
      “When it comes to regulations, it’s not about prohibiting anything but about playing football on the field of play.
      “Everybody is free to express their views, opinions and beliefs but on the pitch, the field of play, we need to respect football and those regulations protect 211 football teams and their fans.
      “The fans who come to the stadium and the billions watching the World Cup on television, each of them has their own problems.
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      “They just want to spend 90, 100, 105, maybe 120 minutes plus penalties without having to think about anything else, to enjoy a little moment of pleasure and emotion.
      “We just need to give these people a moment of time in their life where they can forget their own problems and enjoy football.
      “Outside the match, everyone can express their point of view but let’s give that moment of joy to those who want to enjoy it.”  More