The Bureau of the FIFA Council has stated that the Asian Football Confederation will receive eight slots in the new 48-team World Cup format, which starts from 2026, while proposing a six-team play-off to decide the final two places.
The decision, which would make the India's qualification path to future World Cups considerably easier, will now be submitted to the FIFA Council for ratification in May.
The Bureau, which comprises FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the presidents of the six confederations, met in Zurich . They agreed on the slot allocation for the expanded event.
After 10 January, when the FIFA Council anonymously decided on expanding the FIFA World Cup to a 48-team competition, FIFA, the confederations and the member associations engaged in a consultation process, which resulted in the proposal recommended by the Bureau of the Council.
CAF: 9 direct slots
CONCACAF: 6 direct slots
CONMEBOL: 6 direct slots
OFC: 1 direct slot
UEFA: 16 direct slots
The host country would automatically qualify for the World Cup, and its slot will be taken from the quota of its confederation. In the event of co-hosting, the number of host countries to qualify automatically would be decided by the FIFA Council.
The decision, which would make the India's qualification path to future World Cups considerably easier, will now be submitted to the FIFA Council for ratification in May.
The Bureau, which comprises FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the presidents of the six confederations, met in Zurich . They agreed on the slot allocation for the expanded event.
After 10 January, when the FIFA Council anonymously decided on expanding the FIFA World Cup to a 48-team competition, FIFA, the confederations and the member associations engaged in a consultation process, which resulted in the proposal recommended by the Bureau of the Council.
According to this proposal,
The Direct berths are splitted as follows :
AFC: 8 direct slotsCAF: 9 direct slots
CONCACAF: 6 direct slots
CONMEBOL: 6 direct slots
OFC: 1 direct slot
UEFA: 16 direct slots
The host country would automatically qualify for the World Cup, and its slot will be taken from the quota of its confederation. In the event of co-hosting, the number of host countries to qualify automatically would be decided by the FIFA Council.
Play-off tournament for two remaining slots
The above allocation accounts for 46 of the 48 participating teams. The proposal reviewed by the Bureau of the Council includes a play-off tournament involving six teams to decide the last two FIFA World Cup berths:
One team per confederation with the exception of UEFA + one additional team from the confederation of the host country;
Two teams to be seeded based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The seeded teams will play for a FIFA World Cup berth against the winners of the first two knockout games involving the four unseeded teams;
Tournament to be played in the host countries and to be used as a test event for the FIFA World Cup;
Existing play-off window of November 2025 suggested as tentative date for the 2026 edition.
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