Arsène Wenger Defends 48-Team Format for 2026 FIFA World Cup

FIFA's chief of global football development, Arsène Wenger, has publicly supported the decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks a significant increase from the previous format, which featured 32 teams in the last seven editions. Wenger argues that this expansion is justified, stating, "I believe that 48 teams is the right number. It's less than 25% for 211 countries who are affiliated to FIFA. That means one team out of four has a chance to participate." He emphasizes that despite the increase, 75% of teams will still not qualify.

ESPN

Critics have raised concerns that the larger format may dilute the quality of the tournament. However, Wenger counters this by referencing the recent FIFA U17 World Cup, which also featured 48 teams. He expressed optimism about the quality of competition, asserting that teams qualify based on their performance against others in their confederation. Wenger stated, "The teams are not there by coincidence because they've been invited. [They're] here because they've beaten some teams in their confederation." He believes that the competitive nature of qualifying will ensure that only deserving teams participate.

ESPN

As the tournament approaches, logistical considerations are also being addressed. Wenger noted that FIFA has learned valuable lessons from previous events, particularly regarding pitch quality and player welfare in high temperatures. He assured that the quality of the playing surfaces would be maintained, as no games will be held on the pitches for two months prior to the tournament. Wenger mentioned, "We are quite confident that the quality of the pitches will be perfect," and highlighted plans for hydration breaks during matches to protect players from heat.

ESPN

Looking ahead to potential contenders, Wenger identified England as a strong candidate, while labeling France as a "super favorite" due to its depth and quality of players. He remarked, "I still believe in Europe personally, by trying to be as objective as possible, that France is a super favorite just for one reason: It's a country that has more quality strikers than any team in the world." Wenger's insights reflect a blend of confidence in the expanded format and respect for the competitive landscape of international football.

ESPN

Wenger's comments come ahead of the World Cup draw, where FIFA will reveal the match schedule, a departure from previous tournaments where venues and kickoff times were announced simultaneously with the group draws. He expressed confidence in FIFA's preparations, stating, "We learned a lot about how to protect better the teams after the draw."

ESPN

• “I believe that 48 teams is the right number. It's less than 25% for 211 countries who are affiliated to FIFA. That means one team out of four has a chance to participate. That means still 75% of the teams are not there.” — Arsène Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development

ESPN

• “We are quite confident that the quality of the pitches will be perfect because for two months before the competition there's no games played on the pitches,” — Arsène Wenger

ESPN