FIFA’s decision to officially confirm a 48-team format for the World Cup, beginning with the 2026 edition, is expected to be a boon for Asian and African nations.
The expansion, which will see the group stage consist of 16 groups with three teams each, is designed to spread football beyond the traditional powerhouses of the sport.
Africa’s current allocation of five World Cup slots and Asia’s current allocation of 4.5 are both set to increase.
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The UAE last reached the World Cup in 1990, but the national team has been improving and is ranked 5th in Asia.
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New Zealand may be one of the biggest winners as the Oceania region should get one automatic spot.
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China has been investing heavily to accelerate its bid to become a footballing power, and an expanded World Cup should help.
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Jordan just missed out on the last World Cup - under the new format, they would have qualified for the first time.
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Libya is still waiting for its World Cup debut would have qualified it in 2014 under the new format.
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Uzbekistan lost a playoff to Jordan in 2014. If Asia had just one more slot, Uzbekistan would have made a maiden finals.
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Egypt have so often fallen short at the final qualifying hurdle since their last appearance in 1990. The change should help them.
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Senegal have only played at one World Cup but what a performance in 2002! The new format could see them return.
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Iraq have been the feel-good story of world football in recent years, and weren't too far away from a dream qualification in 2014.
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Qatar finished fourth in their group in the final round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
