How to design a perfect World Cup
Balance fairness, global representation and opportunities for drama
THERE MAY never be another World Cup as intimate as this one. Since 1998 each tournament has featured 32 teams. In 2026, 48 will compete. Not everyone is keen: many fans and pundits fear that the expansion will dilute quality; others question how the entrants can be fairly winnowed down without making the tournament too long. FIFA, football’s global governing body, says it is still considering the structure of the competition. How could it design the perfect tournament?
From the December 17th 2022 edition
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