The FIFA World Cup is one of the most prestigious international football competitions in the world. It is contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of FIFA, the sport’s global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II.
How often is the World Cup held?
The World Cup is held every four years, with qualifying matches in the three years preceding the finals. The host country is chosen in advance by FIFA’s congress. The qualifying process, which begins about three years before the World Cup, involves over 200 of FIFA’s member nations competing to fill 32 spots.
World Cup Schedule
Ever since the first World Cup in 1930, the tournament has traditionally been held every four years except in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II disrupting the schedule. The 4-year cycle has continued from 1950 onwards.
Here are the years when the World Cup has been held:
| 1930 | 1934 | 1938 | 1950 |
| 1954 | 1958 | 1962 | 1966 |
| 1970 | 1974 | 1978 | 1982 |
| 1986 | 1990 | 1994 | 1998 |
| 2002 | 2006 | 2010 | 2014 |
| 2018 | 2022 | 2026 | 2030 |
As seen above, the World Cup has been held every four years since 1958 when the 4-year cycle was restored after World War II. This pattern is set to continue, with tournaments planned in 2026 and 2030.
FIFA World Cup Hosts
The hosting of the FIFA World Cup usually alternates between the continents of the world to allow a global showcase of the sport. The host country is usually chosen 6-7 years in advance by a vote among FIFA’s congress members.
Here is a summary of countries that have hosted the World Cup:
| Year | Host Nation | Continent |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | South America |
| 1934 | Italy | Europe |
| 1938 | France | Europe |
| 1950 | Brazil | South America |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Europe |
| 1958 | Sweden | Europe |
| 1962 | Chile | South America |
| 1966 | England | Europe |
| 1970 | Mexico | North America |
| 1974 | West Germany | Europe |
| 1978 | Argentina | South America |
| 1982 | Spain | Europe |
| 1986 | Mexico | North America |
| 1990 | Italy | Europe |
| 1994 | United States | North America |
| 1998 | France | Europe |
| 2002 | South Korea & Japan | Asia |
| 2006 | Germany | Europe |
| 2010 | South Africa | Africa |
| 2014 | Brazil | South America |
| 2018 | Russia | Europe |
| 2022 | Qatar | Asia |
As seen above, hosting duties have been shared between the various continents over the history of the tournament.
Why is the World Cup every 4 years?
There are several reasons why the FIFA World Cup is held every 4 years:
Traditions and Long-Standing Practice
The 4-year cycle has been part of the World Cup tradition since the first edition in 1930. FIFA has seen no reason to change something that has worked well for over 90 years. The quadrennial format gives fans and nations something major to look forward to every 4 years.
Logistical Challenges
Hosting the World Cup is an enormous logistical challenge for any country. The infrastructure demands, security requirements, transportation arrangements and accommodation needs take years of preparation and significant financial investment. It would be too much to expect of a host country to do this every 2 years.
Makes the Tournament More Special
The fact that the World Cup takes place only once every 4 years adds to the prestige and anticipation around the event. Having it every 2 years would make it feel less significant over time.
Player Workload and Fitness
Staging the World Cup every 2 years would take a toll on elite players who already play a grueling schedule for club and country. The 4-year gap allows them adequate rest between major tournaments.
Proposals for a Biennial World Cup
In recent years, there have been proposals by some figures in football to make the World Cup a biennial (every 2 years) rather than a quadrennial tournament.
Key Motivations Behind Proposals
Those pushing for a biennial World Cup put forth these main reasons:
- It would allow nations to have more chances to compete on the biggest stage.
- The additional revenue generated can be used for football development globally.
- Shorter gaps between tournaments maintain fan interest and engagement.
- Today’s young generation expects major events more frequently.
Opposition to Biennial Proposals
However, there has also been strong opposition to the biennial World Cup idea:
- It would disrupt over 90 years of tradition and the prestige of the quadrennial format.
- Logistical demands would be too much for host nations every 2 years.
- Club football schedule is already overcrowded without additional demands.
- Top players would face increased risk of injury and burnout.
No Consensus Yet
So far there is no consensus between FIFA, continental confederations, leagues, clubs, players and fans on whether the World Cup should become a biennial event. The 4-year cycle remains in place for now and for 2026.
Qualifying Process for the World Cup
The World Cup involves a qualification process open to all FIFA member countries to determine which teams progress to the finals tournament. The current format is:
Number of Places
The World Cup finals tournament comprises 32 teams. 31 spots are determined through qualifying competitions. The 32nd spot is reserved for the host nation.
Continental Qualifying Events
Each continental confederation hosts its own qualifying tournament or series of tournaments. The number of places allocated to each continent is:
- Europe (UEFA): 13 places
- South America (CONMEBOL): 4 or 5 places
- North/Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 or 4 places
- Africa (CAF): 5 places
- Asia (AFC): 4 or 5 places
- Oceania (OFC): 0 or 1 place
Host Nation
The host nation automatically qualifies for the World Cup finals. But if the host finishes high enough in its continental qualifying to also earn direct entry, the extra place goes to another country from that region.
Intercontinental Playoffs
The final two World Cup spots are determined through intercontinental playoffs between teams from different confederations. These are usually the 5th placed sides from Asia and South America.
World Cup Expansion Plans
For the 2026 edition, FIFA has approved an expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 participating teams. How will this impact the tournament?
continent allocation
With 48 teams, the projected continental allocation of World Cup places is:
- Europe – 16 places
- South America – 6 places
- Africa – 9 places
- Asia – 8 places
- North America – 6 places
- Oceania – 1 place
Host Nations
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. All three countries qualify automatically, leaving 45 spots from qualifying.
Format Changes
With 48 teams, the tournament will expand to 16 groups of 3 teams each in the opening group stage. The top 2 teams from each group advance to a 32 team knock-out round. More teams and matches will allow greater global participation.
Pros and Cons
Reaction to the World Cup expansion has been mixed among fans. Potential benefits include providing more countries access to the world stage and generating more interest and revenue globally. But there are also fears of bracket dilution and blowout matches in a bloated group stage.
Conclusion
The FIFA World Cup has a long-established tradition as a quadrennial football championship held every four years since 1930, with a qualifying process open to all member countries. There have been recent proposals to turn the tournament into a biennial event but no consensus or formal decision on this yet. Qatar 2022 will mark the 22nd edition of the World Cup before an expanded 48-team edition is launched in North America in 2026.