Unfamiliar sides, quality chasms and imperfect spectacle: how expanding to 48 teams altered the 2026 World Cup

Within a year of Gianni Infantino taking over from Sepp Blatter as Fifa president, the organisation revealed that the men’s World Cup would expand from 32 to 48 nations. Reactions were mixed. Diego Maradona said he was “delighted by Gianni’s initiative” because it let every country dream of qualifying, reigniting their love for football. Joachim […]

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World Cup 2026: Will Gianni Infantino succeed in expanding to 64 teams?

An expanded 64-team competition offers two key advantages: a more logical structure and greater chances for developing football nations. It is the latter point that the governing body’s president is highlighting, particularly following Cape Verde’s impressive performances. The organization faced scrutiny ahead of the event, with doubts raised about whether the extra participants would be […]

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