Which FIFA World Cup was the first to feature 24 teams?

The 1982 FIFA World Cup was the first World Cup to feature 24 teams.

Held in Spain from June 13 to July 11, 1982, the tournament expanded the finals from 16 teams to 24 for the first time. The larger field created additional opportunities for countries from Africa and Asia and changed the tournament's group-stage format.

The first round contained six groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing. Those 12 teams then entered a second group stage before the semifinals, a structure used only a few times in World Cup history. The tournament's expansion also allowed several nations—including Algeria, Cameroon, Honduras, Kuwait and New Zealand—to make their finals debuts.

Italy won the championship, defeating West Germany 3–1 in Madrid. The 1986 World Cup also had 24 teams, but it was not the first; that distinction belongs to Spain 1982. The finals remained at 24 teams through 1994 before expanding to 32 in 1998.