World Cup Manager Blasts FIFA's 'Vulgar' Cash-Driven Competition Overhaul

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz criticized FIFA for stripping the World Cup of its "rarity" and "value" through this year's expanded 48-team format, raising questions about the reasoning behind the decision.

Africa has emerged as the primary beneficiary of the tournament's expansion from 32 teams, securing four extra automatic qualifying berths along with access to an inter-confederation playoff—claimed by DR Congo—bringing the continent's total qualifiers to 10. On this occasion, African qualifying, once fiercely competitive, proved far more manageable for most of the continent's top nations.

Ghana has also reaped the rewards of 32 teams advancing from the group stage into the knockout rounds. The Black Stars finished third in Group L, behind England and Croatia, yet ranked among the eight best third-place sides to earn a round of 32 clash against Colombia.

Four years ago, Ghana would have been eliminated at this point, but Queiroz suggested following his side's advancement that the World Cup has turned into "something vulgar and ordinary."

He said to reporters: "I believe that value comes when things are rare. When so many teams are able to qualify, is that value still rare? That seems debatable to me, but it is only my opinion."