The expanded World Cup raises quality concerns.

The expanded version of the World Cup has provided entertaining performances, showcasing the brilliance of top stars and the emergence of smaller national teams; however, it has sometimes suffered from limited competitive excitement. As the long group stage nears its end, paving the way for the knockout rounds, the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, implemented for the first time in the 2026 edition, remains a topic of debate.

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, stated in 2017 when the controversial reform was adopted to expand the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, "All nations have the right to dream. Football is not just for Europe and Latin America." With this development, FIFA has pushed the tournament towards greater magnitude.

The number of groups has increased to 12 instead of eight, and the number of matches to 104 instead of 64, with three vast countries hosting: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, using 16 stadiums to accommodate this massive schedule.

FIFA, which includes 211 national federations, more than the number of member states in the United Nations (193), has sought to involve as many geographical regions as possible, driven by financial and political motives as well, with Infantino preparing to run for re-election as president of the federation in 2027 in Morocco in pursuit of a new term.

Vincent Chaudel, founder of the "Sports Business Observatory," said in an interview with "Brut": "This falls within a comprehensive strategy for FIFA aimed at promoting the universality of football. It is not just a sporting choice; it is also a tool for development and global influence. More matches also mean more broadcasting rights and greater commercial revenues."

The biggest success of this expansion remains the inclusion of teams that were previously deprived of the global celebration.

Teams like Curaçao, Cape Verde, Haiti, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, even Scotland (last qualified in 1998) and New Zealand (2010), for example, might not have reached the finals under the previous system. Additionally, Cape Verde's qualification for the Round of 32 represents a strong argument to justify the participation of these "smaller" teams.

However, their participation has also resulted in unbalanced matches; yet they were exhibition-like, pleasing the stars of the game who sought to boost their numbers easily. Argentine Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, at 39 years old, scored five goals in two matches, simultaneously achieving the record for the most goals in the finals (18).

Frenchman Kylian Mbappé dealt a painful blow to the Iraqi team by scoring twice, coming close to the record held by Argentine star with 16 goals across three editions; while Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 years old, took advantage of the match against Uzbekistan to score two goals and deliver a notable performance.