FIFA and Wenger's Verdict on the Expanded World Cup Format

The expansion of the World Cup format from 32 to 48 teams has been a success, according to an analysis by FIFA's technical study group.

Concerns that the new tournament might turn into a disaster for smaller teams proved unfounded, stated legendary Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger at a press conference ahead of Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina. He was confident that the quality of the tournament remained high. The gap between major and minor footballing nations is narrowing, noted the current FIFA chief of global football development. As an example, he cited underdogs Cape Verde, who reached the knockout stage in their World Cup debut and lost to Argentina after extra time.

The technical study group, which includes former German national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann, conducted a detailed analysis of matches from the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The collected data indicates that certain rule changes have proven effective, Wenger explained. Many goal kicks were taken more quickly, and the number of medical interventions decreased. Before the tournament, referees were instructed to prevent or penalize such delays. The group also calculated that the number of goals scored from long-range shots doubled compared to the World Cup in Qatar four years prior.