20 days to the World Cup: How the tournament grew from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 in 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off in 20 days, will be the 23rd edition of the tournament and marks a significant expansion from its origins. When Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural World Cup in 1930, only 13 teams participated, compared to the record 48 teams competing in 2026. The tournament returns to North America this summer, nearly 100 years after the first edition.