Former Sudan and Croatia manager Zdravko Logarusic has blasted FIFA’s decision to expand the competition from 32 to 48 teams, even though his country, Croatia, has advanced to the Round of 32 stage. The 2026 edition is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format in place since France 1998.
The veteran coach blasted the decision to increase the competition from 32 to 48 teams, insisting it has stripped the World Cup of the prestige that once made it football’s biggest prize. This year’s tournament is the first to feature 48 nations after FIFA approved the expansion in 2017 under President Gianni Infantino.
Infantino argued the move would give more countries the chance to experience football’s biggest stage. The enlarged competition has increased the number of matches from 64 to 104. It guarantees more places for every confederation, with FIFA arguing that the move allows greater global representation and creates more opportunities for emerging football nations.
Speaking to GSP1 MEDIA, Ghanasportspage.com, the experienced coach described the format as nonsense and a bad time for the competition.
“First World Cup at the wrong time. World Cup should start immediately after the league finishes somewhere in May, and then, because players are already exhausted, they started their pre-season in June last year, and now this is also the middle of June this year.
“They are already three months in the process, and most of them are tired of football physically and psychologically, and mentally most of them are succumbing to injury because the body could not hold it anymore, and you need a rest.
“In this competition, I think it is just completely (about) money, and I think, in my opinion, this is nonsense. 48 teams to compete; we must go to a maximum of 32, because for me now the World Cup is nothing.
“How can you keep the form without injuries? You have to play three games, and now another three or four games and then get another six or seven games. Most Ghanaian, Croatia players have already played 56 games in the season, with no rest, and summer should be immediately after the league finishes, because when the league finishes, most players are left dry; I think it’s a bit too much”.
“We got three hosts from Latin America, the Middle East and Canada, and now three extra teams from that region came, like Curaçao and other teams; it’s also a bit unfair. They gave Africa 9 spots; now, finally Africa deserves 9 spots. Even Congo came, and it shows, and it shows African football is growing.
“Africa deserves those spots, but I think the rest of them is a bit too much. I think it will never come back to 32 (teams), but even if it comes back to 32, I think Africa deserves those spots. The best two teams can progress; the best can progress, not the third best, fourth best and so on. I think it’s a bit too much,” He concluded.
Full Interview below:
