By Bilal Khan 
Tournament Expansion and Debutants
The FIFA World Cup 2026, which concluded with Spain defeating Argentina in the final, was the largest in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams. This expansion led to a record 104 games played over nearly six weeks across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Despite initial concerns about potential dilution of quality, the expanded format was largely seen as a success, offering more opportunities for new teams and generating compelling storylines.
Several nations made their debut in the tournament, including Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Among these, Cape Verde garnered significant attention, drawing against both Spain and Uruguay in the group stage. They also pushed Argentina to extra time in the knockout rounds before eventually losing 3-2. The performance of debutant teams like Cape Verde, Congo, and Curaçao demonstrated that the gap between top-tier teams and emerging nations has narrowed, providing more competitive matches.
The success of the 48-team format has even led to discussions about a potential 64-team World Cup for the 2030 edition. This proposed expansion would not increase the number of games for finalists, as only the top two teams from a 16-group initial phase would progress to the last 32, maintaining the knockout stage structure.
Controversies and Rule Changes
The tournament was marked by several controversies, including political tensions and rule-related incidents. The participation of Iran was overshadowed by visa issues and travel restrictions, with the team facing obstacles throughout their time in the United States. Political interference also came under scrutiny when USA forward Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension was controversially suspended for a one-year probationary period after US President Donald Trump reportedly urged FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review the case. This decision allowed Balogun to play in the last 16 match against Belgium, which the USA lost 4-1.
Hydration breaks, a new feature for this World Cup, also generated significant debate. While FIFA stated they were for player welfare, particularly given global temperatures, fans often booed the stoppages, feeling they disrupted the flow of play. These three-minute breaks were implemented regardless of conditions, even in air-conditioned stadiums, and were used by broadcasters for commercial breaks and by coaches for tactical discussions. Despite their unpopularity among fans, it remains to be seen if they will be a feature of future international tournaments, though UEFA has already ruled them out for the 2028 European Championship.
Efforts were made to improve the tempo of games, with FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, pushing for referees to ensure quicker play during throw-ins, goal-kicks, and substitutions. This initiative aimed to reduce time-wasting and increase ball-in-play time. The tournament saw an average match length of 96 minutes 24 seconds, with a ball-in-play time of 58 minutes 15 seconds, indicating a slight improvement in action compared to the 2022 World Cup.
Fan Experience and Co-hosts’ Performance
Despite concerns about high ticket prices, which ranged from $140 to $2,735 for group stage matches and up to $8,680 for the final, fan attendance was strong. FIFA reported that stadiums operated at nearly full capacity, with 99.7% occupancy and a record 6,527,410 fans attending matches. The organization also generated additional revenue through its secondary resale platform, adding a 30% fee to every sale. However, controversies arose regarding ticket pricing and the accuracy of seat locations, leading to an investigation by the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey.
The co-host nations also had varied performances. Canada’s men’s team reached the last 16, signaling potential growth in the sport with increased investment and record crowds. Mexico saw enthusiastic fan support, especially during their matches, and achieved their first World Cup knockout win in 40 years. The tournament concluded with Spain’s victory over Argentina in the final held in New Jersey.
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Source: aljazeera.com
