World Cup 2026 Field Set: 48 Nations, a New Format, and a Tournament That Will Feel Like a Month-Long Festival

With the final qualifying playoffs complete, every one of the 48 tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been claimed, locking in the biggest field in tournament history. Now the focus shifts from survival to strategy: how teams will manage deeper rosters, longer schedules, and a redesigned group stage across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.