Ghana Coach Carlos Queiroz Criticizes Expanded 48-Team World Cup Format

As the 2026 World Cup unfolds, Ghana's national team coach Carlos Queiroz has sharply criticized FIFA's new tournament format, which expanded the competition to 48 teams for the first time. In an interview with The Athletic, Queiroz argued that the increase in participating teams diminishes the prestige of qualifying for the World Cup and reduces the significance of the qualification rounds. He stated that when so many teams qualify, the achievement loses its rarity and the tournament risks becoming banal.

Queiroz highlighted that in South America, qualifying has become almost a joke, and in Europe, very few teams fail to qualify, with Italy being a notable exception. He emphasized that the qualification stage should be a serious, competitive challenge, but now financial considerations overshadow sporting merit. Queiroz explained to his players that the group stage feels like mere warm-up, with the real competition starting in the knockout rounds.

His comments reflect broader criticism from football figures since FIFA's decision to expand the World Cup. Queiroz contends that the new format prioritizes economic interests over sporting competitiveness and undermines the tournament's traditional values and intensity.