I need to talk about the new format, because I’m genuinely worried.I need to talk about the new format, because I’m genuinely worried.a
We’re going from 32 teams to 48, which means the classic four-team group is gone, replaced by 16 groups of three. Then we jump straight into a Round of 32.
My main fear? The Group Stage Drama is dead.
The final day of the group stage, where two games kick off at the same time and everything is on the line is pure gold. It’s where the magic happens. With three-team groups, that tension is gone. It feels designed to avoid a draw, but it just kills the suspense of the last matchday.
Plus, let’s be real, the Round of 32 is going to be a bloodbath of mismatches. We’ve all seen the chatter about the “bloated” tournament and the “easy points” teams like Uzbekistan and Jordan (no disrespect, but come on).
But here’s the flip side: a 32-team knockout bracket is pure chaos and excitement. It’s a non-stop, high-stakes sprint to the final. If we can survive the inevitable 6-0 thrashings in the first round, the rest of the tournament is going to be absolutely stacked.
So, what do you think? Is sacrificing the final group stage drama worth getting a massive, intense 32-team knockout bracket? Or is FIFA ruining the best part of the World Cup for cash?
