World Cup 2026 opened with a 48‑team format that delivered more drama than most pundits expected. Cape Verde shocked the football world by knocking out Uruguay and earning a spot against Argentina in Miami. The result echoed former president Gianni Infantino’s vision for broader global participation.

The group stage saw record scoring, with an average of 2.99 goals per game, the highest since the 1998 32‑team era. Key stars – Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Ronaldo and Kane – traded blows in the Golden Boot race, but the tournament also highlighted emerging talents like Vozinha and the historic Curacao squad in this year.

However, the expanded format removed real danger for top seeds. Four groups finished with a win before the last match, and five teams were eliminated outright. The head‑to‑head tiebreaker and the allowance for third‑placed teams to qualify turned the group phase into a 72‑game exercise rather than a test of resilience for the tournament.

The tournament’s strongest argument is its inclusivity: nine of ten African teams reached the last 32, but Asia suffered with only two qualifiers and a collective 0.67 points per game. The results suggest the 48‑team model works for some but not all regions to compete.