Factbox: Implications of 48-team World Cup

The FIFA's ruling council on Tuesday unanimously approved an expansion of the World Cup from >32 to 48 teams in 2026.

Here AFP Sports looks at some of the figures behind the new-look format.

— 48 teams: 16 groups of three

— 32-team knock-out round, increasing number of games from 64 to 80 but within the same 32-day schedule in 12 stadia

— Two teams from each group advance to a 32-nation knock-out round

— If a team progresses to the final in 2026, they will have played seven matches, the same number as a 32-team World Cup

— With 48 teams with squads of 23 — 1,104 players will head to the 2026 event

— A confidential FIFA report seen by AFP projects a cash boost of $640 million (605 million euros) above projected revenues for next year's finals in Russia.