The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup was the biggest in the tournament's history, featuring a record 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The expanded format marked a significant jump from the 64 matches played between 1998 and 2022, following FIFA's decision to increase the number of participating teams from 32 to 48.
The inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 featured just 18 matches, while the 1934 edition had 17.
The tournament gradually expanded to 22 matches in 1950, 26 in 1954 and 35 in 1958 before settling at 32 matches from 1962 to 1970.
The competition grew to 38 matches in 1974 and 1978, 52 from 1982 to 1994, and 64 matches from France 1998 through Qatar 2022.
The 2026 edition added 40 more fixtures, making it the largest World Cup ever staged.
