Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has criticized FIFA's decision to expand the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, arguing that the move has reduced the prestige of football's biggest tournament and weakened the significance of the qualification process.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 participating nations, following a decision approved by FIFA in 2017 under the leadership of President Gianni Infantino. FIFA has maintained that the expansion was designed to increase global participation and give more countries the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage.However, Queiroz believes the larger format has diluted the exclusivity that once defined the tournament.
Speaking after Ghana's 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Philadelphia on Saturday, the veteran Portuguese coach said the World Cup derives its value from being difficult to reach.
"I believe that value comes when things are rare. 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," Queiroz said.
The 73-year-old coach acknowledged Ghana's progress to the knockout stage but questioned the new qualification structure, which allows some third-placed teams to advance beyond the group stage. Ghana secured a place in the Round of 16 after defeating Panama and earning a draw against England.
Queiroz also expressed concern that the expanded format has reduced the competitiveness of continental qualifying campaigns.
"The real success now in South America would be in not qualifying," he remarked, noting that six of the continent's 10 nations now qualify automatically, while a seventh can still reach the tournament through the inter-confederation playoffs.
"Who did not qualify in Europe? 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."
The experienced tactician suggested that commercial interests have increasingly influenced decisions in modern football.
"As you know, today money talks in the game. Where we used to talk about football, it is now moneyball," he added.
Queiroz, who took charge of Ghana in April, continues to make history in international football. The former Manchester United assistant manager became only the second coach, after Bora Milutinović, to appear at five consecutive FIFA World Cups, having previously managed Portugal, Iran and South Africa at the tournament.
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