Good evening, football fanatics! 🍻⚽ As expected, I'm still hooked on the 2026 World Cup, and there's one topic that's blowing my mind... The new format with 48 teams in 12 groups! FIFA sold it as a panacea so that "everyone" could experience a World Cup, and honestly, seeing the matches it gave us, there's a bit of everything...
I've been looking at the trends, and social media is on fire with comparisons. On one hand, we had three-team groups that were decided in two matches, with many teams just speculating; on the other, the 12-group format gave us more heart-stopping matches in the final phase and a third-place spot that kept almost everyone alive. Was it the most entertaining chaos in history or a circus with no excitement?
The funny thing is that the debate is so divided that in betting shops (and in the fan clubs, of course) there are two very clear sides:
- Those who love the format: more teams = more stories, more countries celebrating at home, more "Denmark 92" potential.
- Those who hate it: too many inconsequential matches, groups where the last match meant nothing, and an exhausting schedule.
Watch out, because FIFA has already confirmed that the 12-group format stays for 2026... but there are already rumors of changes for the 2030 World Cup. If you don't like it, you still have time to complain!
I personally experienced it with my mates from the fan club, and the experience is strange: seeing teams that had never set foot in a World Cup (Germany was eliminated for the first time in 90 years after the group stage!) adds a plus, but there were also moments of boredom that are hard to justify. And I love that this generates controversy, because in the end football is passion and everyone has their own truth.
You who have watched every minute like me, what do you think? I'll leave you with a comparison of what the tournament brought compared to other recent World Cups so the debate can be backed by data:
Tournament | Teams | Groups | Total matches | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brazil 2014 | 32 | 8 | 64 | Germany |
Russia 2018 | 32 | 8 | 64 | France |
Qatar 2022 | 32 | 8 | 64 | Argentina |
World Cup 2026 | 48 | 12 | 104 | 🇪🇸 España |
Mind-blowing fact: the 2026 World Cup had 40 more matches than any previous edition. That's a lot of football minutes, but also a lot of "filler" matches...
And now the most important thing, I want you to take a stand. Are you with those who applaud the crazy format or with those of us who want the 32-team one back?
Should the 12-group, 48-team format stay forever, or is it a mistake that needs fixing?
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- PHOTO GALLERY: I tried to upload the images of the stadiums and celebrations, but the forum format ate them 😅 If you want, I'll find them and post them in a future post! (Note: the gallery block was rendered above)
Leave your theories, this looks promising. I have a clear stance, but I want to see if the forum is as divided as the rest of the planet. Long live football! 🇪🇸🏆
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