A World Cup featuring 104 matches creates a different experience for supporters. By the time one group has settled its qualification race, another may already be producing the tournament's next major story. Supporters who register here for football updates or tournament information could end up paying as much attention to other groups as the teams they originally set out to follow.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will expand from 32 teams to 48 and from 64 matches to 104. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament will run from June 11 to July 19 and introduce a new Round of 32 for the first time.
More Teams, More Stories
The increase to 48 teams adds 40 matches compared to Qatar 2022. More nations will arrive at the tournament believing they have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages, particularly in regions that have gained additional qualification places under the expanded format.
The expanded field increases representation from Africa, Asia and CONCACAF. An Australian supporter following the Socceroos, for example, could also find themselves tracking results elsewhere if potential knockout opponents begin to emerge. A result in one group can suddenly become relevant to another part of the tournament once qualification scenarios begin to take shape.
That can create unusual situations. A match involving two teams that appear unrelated to Australia's campaign may suddenly become important because of how it affects the knockout bracket. The larger format makes it harder to focus on a single part of the tournament for long.
Betting Across 104 Matches
A tournament containing 104 matches naturally generates more opportunities for supporters to engage with betting markets throughout the competition.
Interest is no longer limited to outright winners. Qualification markets remain active across the group stage, while each result has the potential to alter expectations around the tournament. The additional matches create more opportunities for odds to move and more chances for unexpected stories to emerge.
Bookies.com estimates that American bettors alone could wager approximately $3.1 billion through regulated online sportsbooks during the World Cup. Prediction markets are expected to generate billions more in activity. A team that wins its opening match may see its outright odds shorten significantly, while an early setback can quickly change expectations. In a tournament with 104 matches, those shifts can occur almost every day.
For supporters tracking odds throughout the competition, platforms such as VBET become another source of information between matches. A single injury or surprise result can shift outright prices within minutes. The expanded format also creates longer-running discussions. A team that starts slowly may still have a path through to the knockout rounds, while an unexpected contender can remain part of the conversation for much longer than in previous tournaments.
The Tournament Never Really Stops
Following the World Cup no longer begins at kick-off and ends after a match. Research from IBM found that 82% of sports fans use apps during live events, while 91% engage with those platforms while the action is taking place.
A supporter may be watching one game while checking developments elsewhere in the tournament. Qualification races can change quickly, particularly during the group stage when several matches affect the same standings.
Statistics have also become a bigger part of football discussion. Expected goals and other performance metrics are available almost instantly, often shaping debate long after a match has finished. During the group stage, one evening's results can reshape several groups at once. By the time supporters catch up with one story, another may already be developing elsewhere in the competition.
Following the World Cup From Australia
The expanded format may be particularly noticeable for Australian supporters. The Socceroos have qualified for six consecutive World Cups, yet geography creates a different viewing experience from that of supporters in Europe or North America. Many matches will take place overnight or during working hours in Australia.
Following the tournament often involves catching up on developments that happened while supporters were asleep. Many rely on score updates before deciding which matches are worth catching up on later.
Sports betting remains a significant part of Australian sporting culture. Research published in 2025 found that 31% of Australian sports fans gamble on sport, while the country's sports betting market was valued at more than AUD 8 billion. A 104-match World Cup gives those supporters far more to follow than Australia's own fixtures. A result elsewhere in the tournament can quickly become part of the daily conversation.
When One Story Replaces Another
Previous tournaments often revolved around a small number of defining matches. Supporters had time to absorb a major result before attention shifted elsewhere.
The expanded tournament leaves less room for that. A dramatic upset in one group could be followed by another major result a few hours later. By the end of the week, several storylines may be competing for attention at the same time. A major upset that might once have dominated headlines for days could now be sharing attention with matches taking place elsewhere in the tournament.
