Arsene Wenger, who took on the role of FIFA's Director of Global Football Development, said on December 4:
The format of the 2026 World Cup has not yet been decided. The FIFA Council will make a decision on the format of the 2026 World Cup next year. It could be 16 groups with 3 teams each or 12 groups with 4 teams each or two branches with 6 groups with 4 teams each, like organizing two groups of 24 teams.
The 2022 World Cup took place dramatically right from the group stage, but at the 2026 World Cup, with the expansion from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA needs to find a new format.
According to the former Arsenal coach, FIFA has other options besides organizing each group of 3 teams. The 3-team group format was an initial idea of FIFA, approved in January 2017.
However, after seeing the appeal of the current four-team World Cup groups in Qatar, FIFA is reconsidering. They want to aim for solutions with a 4-team group and are considering a few options.
The 12-team plan, each group of 4 teams, will allow the third-placed teams with good results to continue to the knockout round. The plan to divide the two teams into 24 groups will allow the two leading teams to meet in the final.
