The first 48-team World Cup, won by Spain after 104 games across five-and-a-half weeks in North America, sparked debate over whether bigger is better. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the expansion from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, drawing mixed reactions. Diego Maradona praised the move for allowing more countries to dream, while Germany coach Joachim Löw warned it would dilute sporting quality. On evidence of the 2026 edition, both had a point.
New Faces and Global Diversity
Infantino stated, "Football is more than Europe and South America; football is global," after the format was announced. Africa and Asia benefited most from increased qualifying quotas. All four debutants – Curaçao, Cape Verde, and others – had moments. Livano Comenencia's equaliser for Curaçao against Germany was a group-stage highlight. Cape Verde, despite not winning a game, became the tournament's biggest underdog story. Six nations played knockout football at a World Cup for the first time, with Egypt and Canada recording their first such wins. Egypt beat Australia on penalties in the last 32.
Gulf in Class Widens
The expanded tournament saw wider disparities between opponents. At the 2022 World Cup, Brazil vs Haiti had a ranking gap of 77 places. In 2026, five group games had gaps exceeding 65 places. Some were competitive – England 0-0 Ghana, Spain 0-0 Cape Verde – but there was little chance of a shock defeat for major teams. Uruguay, a poor performer, was the only major early casualty. Iraq suffered the worst goal difference (-11), while five nations matched or exceeded Costa Rica's -8 from 2022. Star names like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi used the group stage to build momentum in the Golden Boot race.
Flawed Third-Place System
FIFA initially planned three-team groups but stuck with four-team groups, allowing eight third-place teams to advance to the last 32. This system did not eliminate collusion concerns or competitive advantages for later-playing teams. Knockout opponents could change instantly. In Group J, Riyad Mahrez's 93rd-minute goal for Algeria against Austria would have sent them to face Spain, but an equaliser in the 96th minute redirected them to Switzerland. Third-place finishers like Scotland waited days before learning they were eliminated. Five teams (about 10%) were already out before their final group game, undermining the illusion of competitiveness.
Could 64 Teams Be Next?
Infantino hinted at expansion to 64 teams, saying the World Cup should not be "just for Europe and South America." Adding 16 more nations but only 24 extra games could eliminate the third-place system and restore top-two group qualification. However, disparity within groups would increase. Nations like New Caledonia (ranked 151) and Indonesia (118) could qualify with higher quotas. Glamour group ties would become rare. Logistical issues include playing four games daily for three weeks in summer heat across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Of 23 proposed venues, only revamped Bernabéu and Camp Nou have roofs. Further expansion will be debated in coming months.
