How many countries will participate in the 2026 World Cup?
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On August 1, AFC (Asian Football Confederation) announced a new format for the Asian Football Confederation in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will increase the number of participating countries from 32 to 48. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be co-sponsored in 2026 in Canada, the United States and Mexico. As the number of participating countries increases from the conventional 32 countries to 48 countries, the number of participation slots on each continent will also change accordingly. Until now, Asia had a direct entry slot "4" and an intercontinental playoff slot "1", but the new format has assigned a direct entry slot "8" and an intercontinental playoff slot "1". A major change is the increase in the number of national teams participating in the final Asian qualifying round. In the previous Asian final qualifying, 12 countries were divided into 2 groups of 6 teams each, but the new format adopted a method of dividing 18 countries into 3 groups of 6 teams each. It is said that the top two countries in each group (six countries in total) will qualify for this tournament. In addition, in the first and second qualifying rounds in Asia, it is revealed that it also serves as the qualifying round for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 to be held in 2027. The new format was decided as follows. FIFA World Cup 2026 / Asia Qualifying
● Asia 1st Qualifying: A lottery will be held for 22 countries ranked 26th to 47th in the FIFA rankings in Asia, and competition will be conducted in a home and away manner. 11 winning countries advance to the 2nd Asian qualifying round
● 2nd Asian qualifying round: 25 countries from 1st to 25th in the FIFA ranking in Asia and 11 winners of the 1st Asian qualifying round (36 countries in total), 9 groups of 4 teams each Divided into two, home and away type round-robin battles. The top two countries in each group (18 countries in total) advance to the final qualifying round in Asia
● Final qualifying round in Asia: The 18 countries that have advanced to the final qualifying round are divided into three groups of six teams, and a home and away round-robin battle is held. The top two countries in each group (six countries in total) won the right to participate in this tournament * The 18 countries that advanced to the final qualifying round in Asia also got the right to participate in the AFC Asian Cup 2027
● Asia Playoffs: Horse mackerel A. The 6 countries of 3rd and 4th place in each group of the final qualifying will be divided into 2 groups of 3 teams and a round robin battle will be held. The 1st place in both groups (2 countries in total) won the right to participate in this tournament. The 2nd place teams from both groups will play against each other and the winner will participate in the intercontinental playoffs AFC Asian Cup 2026
● AFC Asian Cup Qualifying / Playoffs: The 10 losers of the Asian 1st qualifying round will play in a home-and-away manner. Five winners advance to AFC Asian Cup qualifiers / final round
● AFC Asian Cup qualifiers / final round: 3rd and 4th place in each group of the second Asian qualifiers (18 countries in total), 5 winners of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers / playoffs , The winners of the Asian 1st qualifying round for the repechage (24 countries in total) are divided into 6 groups of 4 teams each, and only the 1st place in each group gets the right to participate in the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
