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L'intenzione di aumentare il numero dei partecipanti nel torneo venne annunciata il 4 ottobre 2016. Vennero considerate quattro opzioni di espansione:<ref name="heraldlive">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldlive.co.za/sport/2016/10/07/new-fifa-chief-backs-48-team-world-cup/|title=New Fifa chief backs 48-team World Cup|publisher=HeraldLIVE|date=7 October 2016|quote=It's an idea, just as the World Cup with 40 teams is already on the table with groups of four or five teams.|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010112923/http://www.heraldlive.co.za/sport/2016/10/07/new-fifa-chief-backs-48-team-world-cup/|archivedate=10 October 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/fifas-5-options-2026-world-cup-48-40-153833734--sow.html|title=Fifa's 5 options for a 2026 World Cup of 48, 40 or 32 teams|publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=23 December 2016|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110142721/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fifas-5-options-2026-world-cup-48-40-153833734--sow.html|archivedate=10 January 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/02/86/19/51/circularno.1572-fifaworldcup%E2%84%A2formatproposals_neutral.pdf|title=FIFA World Cup format proposals|publisher=FIFA.com|date=19 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/story/3027621/federations-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-48-team-world-cup-gianni-infantino|title=Federations 'overwhelmingly in favour' of 48-team World Cup - Infantino|publisher=ESPN.com|date=28 December 2016}}</ref>
* EspandereEspansione a 40 squadre (8 gironi con 5 squadre ciascuno) – 88 partite
* EspandereEspansione a 40 squadre (10 gironi con 4 squadre ciascuno) – 76 partite
* EspandereEspansione a 48 squadre (cominciare con i 32esimi di finale per poi passare i turni tramite scontri diretti) – 80 partite
* ''' EspandereEspansione a 48 squadre (16 gironi con 3 squadre ciascuno) – 80 partite'''
Il 10 gennaio 2017, il [[Comitato esecutivo della FIFA]] votò all'unanimità per espandere il torneo a 48 squadre.<ref name="48teams"/>
===Slot allocation===
OnIl 30 Marchmarzo 2017, thel'ente Bureaudel ofComitato theEsecutivo FIFAdella CouncilFIFA (composedcomposto ofdal thepresidente della FIFA Presidente anddai thepresidenti presidentsdelle ofsei each of the six confederationsconfederazioni) proposedproposero auna slot allocation forper thei 2026Mondiali FIFA World Cup2026. TheLa recommendationraccomandazione wasvenne submittedpresentata forper thela ratificationratifica by thedal [[FIFAComitato CouncilEsecutivo della FIFA]].<ref name="slot">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=3/news=bureau-of-the-council-recommends-slot-allocation-for-the-2026-fifa-wor-2878254.html|title=Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup|publisher=FIFA|date=30 March 2017|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409184031/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y%3D2017/m%3D3/news%3Dbureau-of-the-council-recommends-slot-allocation-for-the-2026-fifa-wor-2878254.html|archivedate=9 April 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39448474|title=World Cup 2026: Fifa reveals allocation for 48-team tournament|publisher=BBC|date=30 March 2017|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330224520/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39448474|archivedate=30 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
OnIl 9 Maymaggio 2017, twodue daysgiorni beforeprima thedel 67th67esimo [[FIFACongresso CongressFIFA]], theil FIFAComitato CouncilEsecutivo approvedapprovò thela slot allocation in aun meetingincontro ina [[Manama]], Bahrain. ItEsso includesinclude an intercontinentalun play-off tournamentintercontinentale involvingche sixcoinvolge teamssei tosquadre. decideDue thedi lastqueste twosi FIFAaggiudicano la Worldqualificazione Cupai berthsMondiali.<ref name=fifa_council>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=5/news=fifa-council-prepares-congress-takes-key-decisions-for-the-future-of-t-2883353.html|title=FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup™|publisher=FIFA|date=9 May 2017|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618072825/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y%3D2017/m%3D5/news%3Dfifa-council-prepares-congress-takes-key-decisions-for-the-future-of-t-2883353.html|archivedate=18 June 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!Confederazione
!Confederation
!TotalMembri FIFA eligibletotali memberscon i requisiti
!TotalPosti placestotali innelle finalsfinali<br />(includingincluso hostl'ospitante)
!Percentuale dei membri con posti nelle finali
!Percentage of members with places in finals
!Posti totali prima del 2026<br />(escludendo l'ospitante e includendo i mezzi posti)
!Total places before 2026<br />(excluding host, including half-places)
|-
|[[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
|2||||-
|-
!Totale
!Total
!211
!48||23%||31 (+ hostospitante)
|}
| 