FIFA Expands To 48 Teams — How Many Teams Are In The World Cup

How many teams are in the World Cup changed from 32 to 48, and that is now the number that will define the expanded 2026 field. FIFA’s move makes this summer’s tournament across three countries in North America the biggest in history.

FIFA's 48-Team Field

The expansion gives the World Cup 16 more places than before, a jump that reshapes qualification and opens the door to more nations reaching the final tournament. For readers tracking the 2026 event, the simple answer is now 48 teams, not 32.

That change also explains why Qatar is back in the field after missing out on points in its first World Cup appearance in 2022. Akram Afif remains Qatar’s primary attacking chance creator, and his team reached the expanded 2026 tournament through Asian qualifying.

Qatar And Curacao

Curacao added one of the clearest markers of the new format by becoming the smallest country to ever qualify for the tournament, with a population of 185,000 people. Dick Advocaat, at 78, will become the oldest man to ever manage at a World Cup.

Those two facts show how much the expanded field changes the shape of the event. A team that could not win a point in 2022 is in, a nation of 185,000 is in, and the manager record now belongs to a 78-year-old heading into the 2026 tournament.

2026 World Cup Stakes

For fans following the field, the practical takeaway is direct: the tournament now has room for more qualified teams, more first-time qualifiers, and more unusual entries like Curacao. Tahith Chong is one of the key players tied to that surge, and the expanded format gives those stories a stage they would not have had under the old 32-team system.