More players and teams will get more opportunities
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have 48 teams competing for the trophy for the first time ever. Xavier Gilbert who is part of the national coaching board alongside Jamaica’s team manager Roy Simpson believe that raising the number of competing teams from 32 to 48 will not affect the game’s quality.
This issue came up after several teams lost heavily during this year’s the World Cup tournament. Initially during the group stage, Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 while England beat Iran 6-2. Switzerland lost 1-6 to Portugal during the round of 16. Moreover, Canada and host country Qatar did not manage to secure any points during the group stage. Nonetheless, according to Simpson and Gilbert, there is no need to raise an alarm.
Wales and Japan later lost to Iran and Costa Rica respectively. Simpson believes that the new teams will find it hard during the beginning whereas Gilbert trusts that more players and teams will get more opportunities. He made reference to when George Weah from Liberia won many club honours along with bagging 75 caps for his nation thus making him the 1995 World Player of the Year.
Many noticed that Erling Haaland from Norway did not participate in this year’s World Cup as his team did not qualify. The arrangement of having 32 teams compete started in 1998.
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