The tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico will be the first with 48 teams taking part in a 12-group format Get the Adam Clery Football Column. A newsletter that unpacks the absurdities and oddities of the beautiful game The ACFC newsletter: unpacking football’s absurdities Unpack football’s oddities with the ACFC newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The 48 nations competing at the 2026 World Cup will