England have simply suffered a crushing World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, placing an finish to a dream. So, naturally, it is time to look ahead and set our hopes on the subsequent World Cup in 4 years’ time.
The 2026 World Cup will happen in North America, with the US, Mexico and Canada all internet hosting video games all through the match. The three nations collaborated to move the United Bid, beating Morocco for the internet hosting rights for the competitors.
So, with England’s journey in Qatar coming to an abrupt finish, 90min takes a have a look at how the Three Lions can discover glory in North America.
The 2026 World Cup will see a major extension. From the acquainted 32-team format we’re now used to, the subsequent World Cup will characteristic a whopping 48 groups.
This may see UEFA’s spots within the finals rise from 13 to 16. Subsequently, we’re nonetheless unsure of how European qualification for the 2026 version will play out, and there may be anticipated to be an announcement on a brand new UEFA World Cup qualification format on January 25 2023.
In any case, England should undergo the qualification course of to be able to declare a kind of 16 European locations in North America – there’s nothing like a goal-littered and defensively sound qualification marketing campaign to catapult expectations, is there?
England and the remainder of the world should adapt to a really new-look format on the 2026 World Cup – though the present potential format has not been utterly finalised, the beneath is more likely to happen.
With the enlargement of individuals, FIFA have for now opted to renovate the group stage and go from eight teams of 4 to 16 teams of three. The 48 nations will every play twice earlier than the highest two sides in every group progress to the knockout part, commencing with a spherical of 32 – not a spherical of 16.
The Three Lions, with the prospect of getting to face only one a lot lower-ranked nation within the group stage not less than (presumably, anyway), will probably be hopeful of a 3rd consecutive look within the World Cup knockout stage when 2026 comes round. What occurs as soon as the group stage is completed and dusted, nevertheless, all the time stays nearly inconceivable to foretell.
The overall variety of matches performed will enhance from 64 to 80, though finalists will nonetheless have performed seven video games with their look on the showpiece occasion.
It might be a good distance off, however we positively want some hope proper now.
