Lionel Messi

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the trophy presented by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, as The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani looks on, after the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. The expanded World Cup in North America got even more supersized on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, The governing body of soccer increased the size of the 2026 tournament for the second time — six years after the first — by approving a bigger group stage for the inaugural 48-team event. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

The expanded World Cup in North America has gotten even more supersized.

The governing body of soccer increased the size of the 2026 tournament for a second time.

FIFA has created a bigger opening stage with four-team groups in a 104-game schedule.

The tournament will now last nearly six weeks in June-July in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The decision adds 24 more games for the 16 host cities. That should further fuel FIFA’s expected record revenue of at least $11 billion through 2026.

The 1998 World Cup in France was the first with 32 teams.

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