Carlos Queiroz criticises new World Cup format

The new World Cup format has been criticised by Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz, who has questioned if football’s biggest tournament has become less special after FIFA increased it to 48 teams.

Carlos Queiroz, who has coached in many countries and World Cups, spoke after Ghana lost 2-1 to Croatia in Philadelphia.

“I believe that value comes when things are rare,” he said.

“The number of teams that can qualify for this competition can turn it into something vulgar and ordinary. When so many teams can qualify, is the value still rare? That would seem debatable to me, but it is only my opinion.”

“The qualification tournaments start to lose their significance if everyone qualifies. Qualification should be serious; it should be very tough, very competitive.

“The World Cup should be something with meaning and significance. It should be rare. But, as you know, today, money talks in the game. Where we used to talk about football, it is now Moneyball.”

The 2026 tournament is the first to use the new system. It replaces the old 32-team format that has been used since 1998.

The change was approved in 2017 under FIFA president Gianni Infantino. It was meant to allow more countries to take part in the World Cup.