The 48-Team Format: Did the Expansion Deliver or Dilute?

[wizzyyy]

• The first-ever 48-team World Cup brought us remarkable group-stage drama and unique matchups like Haiti vs. Scotland and Germany vs. Curaçao. While some feared a dilution of quality, the expanded knockout rounds (starting at the Round of 32) provided non-stop entertainment. Has this format expansion been a massive success for global football?

[Rebeccaroberts]

It has actually delivered 

The so called smaller nations like Cape Verde and Curaçao actually gave us good matches. 
I don’t know what will happen if it goes to 64 though. That feels like a step too far. 

[firelord ozai]

Instead of increasing number of teams, we should actually increase number of gameplay, they should be 1st and 2nd leg once it gets to the knockout stage, like the UCL..

World cup should be played for more than a month, this is football

[clottedateries8]

Honestly the smaller nations brought way more energy than I expected, but some of those group games were still proper snoozefests tbh. It delivered on chaos but maybe not pure quality.

[Emberenne0]

Tbh, the chaos was the best part — some matches were rough but the pure drama made up for it. 64 would be overkill though, this format already feels right on the limit.

[luxori]

Honestly the chaos factor was a massive win, those wild matchups made every group feel alive even when the football wasn't perfect. But yeah 64 would be pushing it, this already feels like the sweet spot between spectacle and quality.

[MEA1123]

First off we will win

[peltlyn]

Some of those underdog matches were electric, ngl, but I did doze off during a couple of the more lopsided group games 😂 the drama definitely carried the format though.

[sophnda]

Tbh the chaos was worth it even if some games were rough—seeing teams like Haiti and Curaçao get their moment on that stage was pure vibes

[Krxtha]

ngl the chaos definitely made it worth it, some of those group games were rough but the underdog moments were pure gold