FIFA's 48-team World Cup expansion: A cynical cash grab that's actually working
By
Rodger Sherman
Summary
The article discusses the expansion of the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, acknowledging that while the motive was purely financial (more games = more revenue for FIFA), the actual outcome has been surprisingly positive. The addition of 16 new teams has introduced lesser-known nations like Cape Verde and Curaçao to the global stage, and the USMNT is performing well. The article also mentions a surprise world record in swimming.
Source
Key quotes
· 5 pulledDon't you hate it when you wanted to be cynical about something but it rules?
The FIFA World Cup is now 48 teams, 50 percent larger than ever before. The reason for this was blatant: Cash.
FIFA has never been shy about chasing paper, and had billions of reasons to expand the World Cup that had nothing to do with soccer.
But the addition of 16 new teams has been, quite frankly, delightful.
I'm glad we got to meet Cape Verde and Curaçao.
You might also wanna read

Fox and Telemundo Benefit From Expanded World Cup as FIFA Grows Tournament to 48 Teams
FIFA's expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 nations and 64 to 104 matches provides a significant boost to U.S. media rights holders Fox

Curacao's historic 7-1 win highlights the tension between World Cup expansion and competitive quality
The article criticizes FIFA's expansion of the 2026 World Cup from 32 to 48 teams as a greed-driven move that dilutes the tournament's compe
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to Watch, Format Changes, and Streaming Guide
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features an expanded format with 48 nations competing across 104 matches in 16 cities, hosted jointly by three count
2026 World Cup Power Rankings: Evaluating All 32 Teams Ahead of the Knockout Rounds
The 2026 World Cup group stage has concluded, reducing the field from 48 to 32 teams. The article provides power rankings for all remaining

2026 World Cup Streaming Guide: What to Know About Watching on Peacock and Other Services
The article discusses the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams competing in 104 games across the United States, Canada, and


Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.