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

During the ongoing 2026 World Cup, Ghana's coach Carlos Queiroz sharply criticized FIFA's new tournament format that 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 makes the qualification phase less meaningful. He stated that when so many teams qualify, the rarity and value of reaching the tournament are lost, calling the expansion a factor that "destroys the tournament."

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 serious, difficult, and competitive, but now financial considerations overshadow sporting merit. He said, "Instead of football, money is running things."

Explaining the new format to his players, Queiroz told them that the group stage is merely a warm-up and that the real World Cup begins in the knockout rounds. His comments reflect broader criticism from football figures who believe the expanded format prioritizes economic interests over sporting competitiveness and undermines the tournament's traditional prestige.