(NATIONAL) — With the World Cup set to take place in the U.S. for the first time since 1994, you might be wondering how this tournament works. Here are some basics for you to get up to speed. This year’s tournament will feature 48 teams instead of 32 like past tournaments have.

The 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil is fast approaching, so here is everything you need to know about the format and teams.

A new system is in place for the 2026 tournament which keeps the top-rated teams apart until the later stages, in theory at least

Referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will earn a record $100,000 each, coinciding with expanded VAR powers and new match rules.

PFA CEO Maheta Molango warns FIFA's 48-team World Cup expansion could favor elite teams, increase player injuries, and dilute match quality ahead of 2026.

The World Cup started in 1930 with just 13 teams involved and was split into four groups. It became a 16-team tournament in 1954, before being increased to 24 in 1982. The past seven editions of the World Cup have been 32-team tournaments,

There's still time to download and print our FREE 2026 World Cup bracket — but time's running out. Download our printable World Cup bracket and test your World Cup picks against friends, family, work colleagues,

The 2026 World Cup is finally upon us, meaning I can stop making futures bets and focus on the first set of group games. For more big-picture storylines and pre-tournament plays, check out everything else I've written so far at Yahoo Sports.