Fifa's Analysis Confirms Success of Expanded World Cup Format

WHO:

mediaselangor.com - FIFA's technical study group, Arsene Wenger, Jürgen Klinsmann, Pascal Zuberbühler

Yahoo Sports - FIFA's technical study group, Arsene Wenger, Jürgen Klinsmann, Pascal Zuberbühler

WHAT:

mediaselangor.com - FIFA's technical study group deemed the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams a success.

Yahoo Sports - The quality of the tournament was described as "very high" by Wenger.

mediaselangor.com - Cape Verde reached the round of 32 in their World Cup debut and lost to Argentina after extra time.

Yahoo Sports - The number of long-range goals doubled compared to the World Cup in Qatar four years ago.

mediaselangor.com - The number of medical interventions declined during the tournament.

WHERE:

mediaselangor.com - The World Cup matches took place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

WHEN:

mediaselangor.com - The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for a future date, specifically "Sunday" as mentioned in the articles.

WHY:

mediaselangor.com - Fears that the expanded tournament would be a disaster for smaller teams did not materialize.

Yahoo Sports - Wenger noted that the gap between big and small nations is narrowing.

HOW:

mediaselangor.com - Referees were instructed to prevent delays in goal kicks or penalize them in cases of doubt.

Yahoo Sports - Goalkeepers stepped away from the goal line more often to punch the ball away, partly due to better protection.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 07:42 UTC)

FIFA's technical study group, featuring notable figures like Arsene Wenger and Jürgen Klinsmann, has declared the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams a success, highlighting the tournament's "very high" quality. In an impressive debut, Cape Verde reached the round of 32 before losing to Argentina after extra time, while the number of long-range goals doubled compared to the previous World Cup in Qatar, and medical interventions declined throughout the matches held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Looking ahead, the FIFA World Cup 2026 final is set for a future Sunday, with Wenger noting that fears regarding smaller teams struggling in the expanded format did not materialize, as the gap between big and small nations continues to narrow.