Since its origins, fans have celebrated the World Cup for its mathematically perfect bracket — following eight groups of four, the 32-team format allowed the top two teams to advance in the tournament. 

This year, however, a new change has emerged. Ahead of the June 2026 World Cup, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) voted to expand its global tournament from 32 to 48 teams, citing significant financial gains, including greater numbers of fans, games and sponsorship. But that doesn’t make it right — this decision prioritized profit over the spirit of competition that has shaped the World Cup into the most-watched sporting event in the world.  

The expansion comes at a steep cost. Players will now have to endure more games in the summer heat, placing unnecessary strain on their bodies. The body is forced to regulate its temperature when overheated, putting its functions into overdrive, meaning players who are working longer will suffer. 

Blowout scorelines will likely become more prominent as traditional powerhouses like Brazil, France and Argentina continue to dominate, though smaller nations, which are now included in the tournament because of the new spots, will likely lack the talent to keep up. The international tournament has continued to grow since 1982, and people expect 2026 to see more injuries and a growing divide between the superior and the developing teams. Simply put, the World Cup is becoming less competitive. 

The World Cup’s expansion first began in the 1930s. After originating with just 13 nations in 1930, the tournament soon grew to 16 teams by 1934. The next surge was in 1982, when the number of teams expanded to 24, allowing more entries from Africa, Asia and North America. In 1998, FIFA widened the bracket to include 32 teams. After the FIFA council voted in 2017 to enact the change starting in 2026, there are now 48 teams contesting for the iconic 18-karat gold FIFA World Cup Trophy. 

The number of teams in the World Cup should not grow beyond the 32-team format. There is no real value in matches where small countries will be quickly brushed aside. Preeminent teams will romp through the game, likely resting key players to minimize the toll of grueling competition. This 16-team expansion comes with a 40-game increase, and more matches mean higher chances of injury. 

Sophomore Ezequiel Garay Santacruz plays on the boys’ soccer team and is not enthusiastic about the 2026 World Cup. From a fan’s perspective, Garay Santacruz said adding more countries will be a downgrade for the upcoming tournament. 

“As a fan, the competitiveness gives games more meaning and makes them more fun to watch,” Garay Santacruz said. “It shows the players truly care about winning, and they aren’t treating it as a casual tournament.”

This year’s tournament will be hosted in various locations across the US, Canada and Mexico — rather than in one host country as done in previous years — welcoming a wider audience to enjoy the action. This decision was necessary due to the increased number of games, which will take place in these countries’ variety of top-tier stadiums, bypassing the hefty cost of building new venues. 

However, hosting the World Cup across three nations will come with a learning curve — the immense distances between host cities create complex border travel for teams and equipment, and could fatigue players, fans and teams. Furthermore, spreading the event across three nations risks losing the unique centralized atmosphere of a single-host World Cup.

Expanding the World Cup does have some benefits. Most prominently, it increases opportunities for typically underrepresented African and Asian nations to showcase their talent globally. The increased number of countries can inspire young players and boost infrastructure investments. The World Cup’s change would fundamentally alter its culture and viewership, as more people will be able to watch their countries play on the ultimate stage. 

However, FIFA didn’t implement this expansion just to increase smaller countries’ representation — financial motives heavily influenced the decision. The expansion to 48 teams will generate massive revenue, projected to exceed $10 billion. FIFA will earn more than 2 billion, up from 2022, when it was a 32-team tournament. 

Additionally, the increase in games, hosting locations, and fans will have a huge impact on the environment. The 2026 edition is projected to produce the most carbon dioxide emissions of any tournament in history, with emissions estimated to reach 9.02 million metric tons, representing a 92% increase from 2022.

The World Cup has evolved from the core principle of inclusivity, intended to inspire young players. Now, it’s an intense competition among the best teams and players in the world, and a fair divide between the elite and those not yet qualified. It’s the most coveted sporting event in the world, and the highest level of soccer available. The expansion threatens the World Cup legacy. 

As time goes on, the World Cup continues to expand. With this come many implications: increased injuries, uneven matches and environmental damage. FIFA must ask itself whether profit is enough to justify sacrificing the integrity, passion and camaraderie of an event cherished across the globe.