The Next FIFA World Cup Will See 48 Teams Contesting For The Elusive Prize

It means more of soccer바카라�s so-called 바카라�little teams바카라� that didn바카라�t make it to Qatar will be given a chance of a lifetime when the tournament is hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

That could be great news for everyone who was entertained by Saudi Arabia바카라�s stirring upset of Lionel Messi바카라�s Argentina at this World Cup, Japan바카라�s two wins over former champions Germany and Spain or Morocco바카라�s humbling of star-studded Belgium and Spain on its way to an unexpected quarterfinal run. More surprises surely await in four years.

Still, it바카라�s not clear to everyone that bigger is better.

While 48 teams might increase the chances of fairytale moments such as Saudi Arabia바카라�s 2-1 win over Argentina in the group stage, there바카라�s also a good chance of the opposite: more one-sided games that may take some of the shine off a tournament that is meant to be the best vs. the best.

Spain 7, Costa Rica 0 also happened at this World Cup. As did England바카라�s 6-2 rout of Iran, France바카라�s 4-1 dismantling of Australia and Qatar becoming the first host country to lose its three group stage matches. FIFA will need to dig even deeper into the lower levels of international soccer to get from 32 to 48.

바카라�It means that we will have to find 16 more good teams,바카라� said Arsene Wenger, FIFA바카라�s Chief of Global Football Development and a central figure in making a 48-team World Cup workable.

FIFA is still promoting the expansion as an upgrade and good for the global game. All continents will have more slots and FIFA says opening soccer바카라�s marquee event to more of its 211 member countries or territories should have an impact beyond the teams, with the prospect of even more eyes on TV screens and more kids inspired to kick balls across the globe.

바카라�I am convinced that if the teams, the countries have more opportunities to go to the world stage, it will do more for (soccer) development inside that country,바카라� Wenger said.

Qatar바카라�s World Cup is the first in the Middle East and the furthest FIFA has ventured from the game바카라�s heartlands in Europe and South America. That decision has provoked its own harsh criticism but the on-field action might have been a timely advert for the 48-team plan, which FIFA announced in 2017 and has had to defend ever since over doubts about what the exact format will be.

FIFA initially indicated it would be 16 groups of three teams, but that idea was widely criticized. Another option could be 12 groups of four teams. Wenger said FIFA바카라�s decision-making council has not decided yet.

In Qatar, Japan was one of three Asian teams to qualify for the last 16, which had never happened before. African teams collected more points in the group stage than ever. Morocco topped a group containing 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia and semifinalist Belgium, and advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Spain on penalties on Tuesday. Cameroon signed off by beating Brazil, the first time an African team has conquered the five-time champion and soccer바카라�s most celebrated team at a World Cup.

바카라�Just look at how the World Cup is unfolding,바카라� said Senegal coach Aliou Cisse. 바카라�It바카라�s not like 30 years ago when the big fish were completely eating the little fish alive.바카라�

Amid Japan바카라�s run in Qatar, winger Takefusa Kubo said 바카라�they can바카라�t underestimate Asia.바카라� Ghana coach Otto Addo said Africa deserves its extra places and its teams now have a better chance of going further.

However, the expansion may not have much of an impact on the final outcome of the World Cup.

European and South American teams 바카라� the big fish Cisse referred to 바카라� have gobbled up every one of the 21 World Cup titles so far, with 12 for Europe and nine for South America. No teams from another continent have made a final in nearly 100 years of World Cup history. Eighty-two out of 84 semifinalists have been European or South American. The United States in 1930 and South Korea in 2002 are the exceptions.

In Qatar, while teams from outside Europe and South America did well in the group stage, only Morocco advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will face Portugal on Saturday. South Korea, Japan, Senegal, the United States and Australia were all eliminated in the round of 16.

Cisse바카라�s Senegal are the African champions but were outclassed 3-0 by England. South Korea, ranked No. 3 in Asia, was knocked out 4-1 by Brazil. South Korea forward Son Heung-min, his country바카라�s one star, said almost in envy: 바카라�Look at their players.바카라�

A bigger World Cup does offer clear advancement opportunities for FIFA, though.

Just over 3.5 billion people, more than half the world바카라�s population, watched the 2018 World Cup in Russia, according to FIFA, and the soccer body earned record revenues of $7.5 billion from commercial deals tied to the Qatar World Cup.

With those numbers in the bank from a 32-team tournament, 48 offers the obvious chance to sell World Cup aspirations to more people in more places.