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A supersized World Cup, featuring more teams, more matches, and multiple host nations like never before, raises a significant question about the limits of the world’s biggest sporting event: How much is too much?
The upcoming tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, aims to push soccer’s global appeal to new heights. But it also tests the endurance of players, the patience of fans, and the willingness of spectators to pay premium prices for tickets and parking.
With the tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams and spanning nearly six weeks, some critics warn it risks diluting the quality and excitement of FIFA’s flagship event.
“I personally think it’s kind of taken a little bit of the excitement and quality away from the tournament and it’s almost like it doesn’t start until the round of 32,” said former U.S. forward Clint Dempsey.
The new format reduces the chance of early “group of death” scenarios, with eight of the best third-place teams now advancing to the round of 32, lessening early-stage drama. Jonathan Wilson, author of The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup, cautions that this dilution could erode fan interest. “Nobody is watching 90 out of 104 games. It’s just too much,” he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defends the expansion, saying it will make the game truly global and open doors for nations that once only dreamed of World Cup participation. Four countries will make their debut next month, including tiny Curacao, the smallest by population ever to qualify.
“It’s a big achievement for us to make it, but we also want to show that we can play and that we deserve to be there,” said Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room.
Other newcomers include Jordan, Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Haiti, which returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. Haiti midfielder Yassin Fortune reflected on the journey: “Qualifying and being able to participate is unimaginable.”
There are inspiring stories off the pitch as well. Haiti goalkeeper Josue Duverger will face stars like Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and Neymar. New Zealand called up Tommy Smith, who played in England’s fifth tier until recently.
Yet some experts argue that less might be more. Maheta Molango, chief executive of England’s Professional Footballers’ Association, warns that the growing number of matches and tournaments risks exhausting players and harming the quality of the spectacle. He compares soccer unfavorably to the NFL, which thrives by maintaining a limited number of games.
“The starting point has to be ‘let’s put back the quality of the show at the center of our project,’” Molango said.
Player unions also raise alarm over physical and mental strain on top athletes. After this World Cup, many stars will have endured three consecutive years of major tournaments. Chelsea’s injury rate reportedly jumped 44% following last year’s Club World Cup victory.
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher criticized organizers for ignoring player welfare. “The top players get treated a little bit like cattle,” he said.
On the financial side, FIFA stands to gain significantly from the expanded tournament. With 104 matches, ticket sales—and prices—have soared. Initial tickets ranged from $140 to $8,680 US, with some scalped at face prices as high as $32,970 for the final. FIFA takes a 30% commission on resale tickets, some listed at nearly $2.3 million each for the final.
Fans have condemned the pricing strategy as a “monumental betrayal,” but demand remains strong. FIFA reports more than $9 billion in expected revenue this year, which it claims will be reinvested in the sport.
Whether fans will embrace the supersized World Cup remains uncertain. Nielsen reports rising interest in international soccer in the U.S., with the Euros final between Spain and England drawing 6.6 million viewers, and the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia attracting 6.5 million.
At the time of reporting, FIFA had signed media deals covering 180 territories, with more expected, signaling strong global appetite despite concerns about the tournament’s size and structure.