"We want to make football global all over the world, Wenger said on Thursday ahead of the 2026 World Cup Draw. The target is to give a chance to other confederations to win the World Cup. We want to see an African team, an Asian team, we want to see CONCACAF (North America) win. More teams, however, tease an even further dilution of talent at the pinnacle of world soccer."
"Curacao, which became the smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup with a population of 185,000, is ranked 82nd in the FIFA world rankings. Fellow debutants Uzbekistan is 50th, Cape Verde is 63rd, and Jordan is 66th. Haiti, making only its second-ever World Cup appearance and first since 1970, ranks 84th in the world. To suggest they can hang with some of the world's best, whether it be Spain, France, or England, would strike many as disengenuous."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will feature 48 teams, the largest tournament field in history. Expansion mirrors past increases from 13 teams in 1930 to 32 teams in 1998. Only eight nations have won the tournament, all from Europe or South America. Expansion aims to globalize the sport and provide other confederations a chance to win, including African, Asian and CONCACAF teams. Critics warn that more teams could dilute elite talent. Several debutants hold relatively low FIFA rankings: Curacao 82nd, Uzbekistan 50th, Cape Verde 63rd, Jordan 66th and Haiti 84th.
Read at www.amny.com
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